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

Iraj

About

Nationality: Iran
Religion: Presumed Muslim
Civil Status: Unknown

Case

Date of Killing: October, 1987
Location of Killing: Hamedan Province, Iran
Mode of Killing: Other execution method
Charges: Homosexual act; Murder

About this Case

The execution of Mr. Iraj, son of Bakhsh Ali, along with two other men, was reported in the Kayhan newspaper on October 26, 1987.

Arrest and detention

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

Trial

No information is available on the trial.

Charges

According to this report, Mr. Iraj was charged with “the repulsive act of sodomy and murder of a boy.”

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 report of this execution does not contain information regarding the evidence provided against the defendant.

Defense

No information is available on Mr. Iraj’s defense.

Judgment

According to Kayhan, the “First Penal Court of Hamedan issued the death sentence after 25 months, and the Supreme Court approved the verdict… Three methods of execution were proposed for the murderers: beheading by sword, collapsing a wall on their heads, and throwing them off a cliff. The murderers chose the third option.” Mr. Iraj and two other men, “in the presence of some officials,” were thrown off Mount Darband near Asadabad in Hamedan province.

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