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

Behruz Zanganeh

About

Age: 21
Nationality: Iran
Religion: Unknown
Civil Status: Unknown

Case

Date of Killing: October 28, 2007
Location of Killing: Bushehr, Bushehr Province, Iran
Mode of Killing: Hanging
Charges: Rape

About this Case

News of the conviction and execution of Mr. Behruz Zanganeh, along with another person, was published on the websites of the weekly Paygham on September 16 and 17, 2006, May 27, 28, and 29, 2007, IRNA (Islamic Republic News Agency) on May 28, 2007, and Aria news agency on October 28, 2007.        

Arrest and Detention

According to the weekly Paygham, following a complaint made by a girl student in Bushehr claiming being kidnapped by three young men at woods around the village of Chahkuh and raped by seven young men, four of them residents of Chahkuh, security agents arrested all defendants except one in July of 2006.

Trial

This trial took place in the Punitive Court of Bushehr. No further information is available about the defendant’s trial.

Charges

The charge against Mr. Behruz Zanganeh and five others was collectively announced as "rape."       

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 evidence presented against the defendant was announced as his confession and complaint made by plaintiff.

Defense

No information is available on the defendant's defense. According to the weekly Paygham, families of the defendants gathered in front of the Court House in Bushehr after the ruling was issued. During this gathering, families objected to the trial process and demanded to stop the ruling being carried out. They also gathered in front of highway police station in Bushehr and disrupted the traffic for awhile. Mother of a defendant, who was very excited, told the reporter that most of the defendants were under 18 years old. She rejected the allegation of rape based on the girl’s statement that she went out of town with defendants voluntarily. She also objected to the court appointed attorney and quick process of ruling and execution. Sister of another defendant confirmed that his brother was under 18 years old and believed that the ruling was issued with prejudice. The families of defendants distributed the text of pardon by plaintiff’s family among people, judicial authorities, and the media.    

Judgment

The court condemned Mr. Behruz Zanganeh to death and the ruling was confirmed by the Supreme Court. He was hanged at the Central Prison in Bushehr on October 28, 2007. Mr. Behruz Zanganeh was 21 years old.

According to the media reports, the execution of these six defendants was postponed three times due to objection of families. Also, gatherings of families in front of government buildings forced authorities to carry out executions separately and in different times.            

            

 

 

 

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