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

Zohreh (Sharareh) Filizadeh

About

Nationality: Iran
Religion: Non-Believer
Civil Status: Single

Case

Date of Killing: 1984
Location of Killing: Tehran, Tehran Province, Iran
Mode of Killing: Fatal
Charges: Unknown charge

About this Case

The information about Ms. Zohreh (Sharareh) Filizadeh has been gathered from two of her former cellmates. Ms. Filizadeh studied journalism at the school of social communication at the Shiraz University and was a sympathizer of the Fadaiyan Khalq Guerilla Organization, specifically the Ashraf Dehqani branch.

According to her cellmates, Ms. Filizadeh was very sympathetic, kind, and was always ready to help others. She was loved by other cellmates. She was steadfast in her political beliefs and never showed signs of weakness.

The Fadayian Khalq Guerilla Organization, a Marxist Leninist group inspired by the Cuban Revolution and the urban guerilla movements of Latin America, was founded in 1971 by two communist groups opposed to the Pahlavi regime. Following the 1979 Islamic Revolution, the organization, which had renounced armed struggle, split over their support of the Islamic Republic and of the Soviet Union. A number of the organization’s members, who did not renounce armed struggle, founded the group The Fadayian Khalq Guerillas (the Ashraf Dehqan Branch).

Arrest and detention

Ms. Filizadeh was arrested in 1982 and was taken to Evin prison. During her detention, she was on the second level of Ward 240 (later renamed Ward 4), in room number 4, assigned to the area where they kept leftist prisoners. She was tortured while under interrogation, and her cellmates state that when she came to the Ward, her feet were so badly wounded that she could hardly walk.

Trial

Ms. Filizadeh was tried twice. In her first trial, she was condemned to 12 years in prison. However, some time after the first trial, one of her cellmates – who was affiliated with the same organization – was tortured by a method known as “the grave,” and subsequently disclosed more information about Sharareh to the authorities. As a result, Sharareh was latter was re-tried.

The “grave” or “box” was a method of torture where the prisoner was blindfolded and forced to sit on the floor between boards. The space that divided the boards was so little that the boards touched the legs and feet of the prisoner sitting inside, preventing any movement. The back of the “box” was open so the prisoners could be watched at all times. The front of the “box” might also have been open if the prisoner was positioned against a wall. While in a “box,” the prisoner was not allowed to speak. A prisoner might be forced to sit in this position for months.

Charges

The charge brought against Ms. Filizadeh is not known.

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 Ms. Filizadeh’s defense.

Judgment

At the second trial, Ms. Sharareh Filizadeh was condemned to death. She was executed in the spring or summer of 1984 in Evin prison.

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