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

Mohammad Sha'banian

About

Nationality: Iran
Religion: Presumed Muslim
Civil Status: Unknown

Case

Date of Killing: January 23, 1989
Location of Killing: Abhar, Zanjan Province, Iran
Mode of Killing: Hanging
Charges: Unspecified offense

About this Case

News of the execution of Mr. Mohammad Sha'banian, along with three other individuals, was published in an interview with the Head of the Abhar Court (Zanjan province) by a reporter of the Jomhuri Eslami newspaper on February 6, 1989. In explaining the ruling, the Head of the Court said, "When part of a human body decays it must be removed to save the whole body. The same is true about the human society. When Moslems notice the decay in a part of the human society and this decay is spreading, the root must be dried out."

Arrest and Detention

The circumstances of this defendant’s arrest and detention are not known.

Trial

No information is available on the defendant’s trial. According to the statement by the Head of the Abhar Court, the legal process of these cases finished in 18 days. In explaining the speed of the investigation, he said, "As the honorable Chief of the Supreme Court mentioned in the Friday prayer, some of the cases took long for judicial process and caused dissatisfaction among the people. Therefore, Imam said, 'The cases against the criminals should be investigated immediately and the necessary rulings must be carried out without delaying formalities.' Based on this statement, the judges of the Public Prosecution Office in Abhar were able, in cooperation with the police and intelligence officers of the city, to make the case, and complete and confirm it by the Supreme Judiciary Council in 18 days after the arrest."

Charges

The charges against Mr. Mohammad Sha'banian were announced as "kidnapping and deluding children."

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 Islamic Republic authorities have brought trumped-up charges against their political opponents and executed them for alleged 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 report of this execution does not contain information regarding the evidence provided against the defendant.

Defense

No information is available on Mr. Sha'banian's defense.

Judgment

The court condemned Mr. Mohammad Sha'banian to death and the ruling was confirmed by the Supreme Judiciary Council. He was hanged in public in Abhar on January 23, 1989 at 4 p.m.

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