Abdorrahman Boroumand Center

for Human Rights in Iran

https://www.iranrights.org
Omid, a memorial in defense of human rights in Iran
One Person’s Story

Qobad Siah Mansuri

About

Age: 31
Nationality: Iran
Religion: Presumed Muslim
Civil Status: Unknown

Case

Date of Killing: April 14, 2005
Location of Killing: Najaf Abad, Esfahan Province, Iran
Mode of Killing: Hanging
Charges: Murder; Armed robbery

About this Case

The execution of Mr. Qobad Siah Mansuri, born in 1973 in Khoram Abad (Lorestan province) was announced on the websites of the Khorasan newspaper (April 17, 2005), the Kayhan and the Iran newspapers (April 16, 2005).

Arrest and detention

According to Kayhan, on July 20, 2004, the defendant was returning from the city of Najaf Abad (Esfahan province) with two other men when they got into a fight with the Najaf Abad police. During this armed conflict, a policeman was killed, and Mr. Siah Mansuri was arrested.

Trial

No information is available on the defendant’s trial.

Charges

Mr. Siah Mansuri was charged with armed robbery.

The validity of the criminal charges brought against this defendant cannot be ascertained in the absence of the basic guarantees of a fair trial. International human rights organizations have drawn attention to reports indicating that the Islamic Republic’s authorities have brought trumped-up charges against their political opponents and executed them for drug trafficking, sexual, and other criminal offences. Each year, Iranian authorities sentence to death hundreds of alleged common criminals, following judicial processes that fail to meet international standards. The exact number of people convicted based on trumped-up charges is unknown.

Evidence of guilt

The Iran newspaper reported: “after close examination of the robbers’ automibiles, 93 billion rials cash was discovered along with some handguns and Kalashnikovs.” According to the Khorasannewspaper the evidence used against Mr. Siahmansuri were, “the confession of the defendant and the statements of witnesses” The text of the confession, however, is not available.

International human rights organizations have repeatedly condemned the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran for its systematic use of severe torture and solitary confinement to obtain confessions from detainees and have questioned the authenticity of confessions obtained under duress.

Defense

No information is available on Mr. Siah Mansuri’s defense.

Judgment

According to the Khorasan newspaper report, the judge of the first branch of Najaf Abad court issued the death sentence based on the following facts: “creating an atmosphere of terror and fear among people, disturbing people’s peace, participating in armed robberies of banks and a gold shop, and shooting in the streets and at the police.” The ruling was confirmed by Branch 26 of the Supreme Court. Mr. Siahmansuri was executed on Thursday, April 14, 2005, at 6:55 am in front of a large group of people in Najaf Abad.

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