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

Hossein Kuhestanian Kushki

About

Age: 33
Nationality: Iran
Religion: Presumed Muslim
Civil Status: Unknown

Case

Date of Killing: 2001
Location of Killing: Khorasan\Khorasan-e Razavi Province, Iran
Mode of Killing: Hanging
Charges: Drug trafficking; Drug possession; Possession of arms

About this Case

News of the execution of Mr. Hossein Kuhestanian Kushki, along with two others, was published in the Kayhan newspaper on February 25, 2001. He was from Zahedan and his case and the cases of two others were related to drug trafficking and connection with Afghan smugglers in Sistan-va-Baluchestan.

Arrest and detention

The circumstances of Mr. Kuhestanian Kushki’s arrest and detention are not known.

Trial

Branch Nine of the Islamic Revolutionary Court in Mashhad tried Mr. Kuhestanian Kushki and two other defendants. No information is available on his trial.

Charges

According to the Public Relations Office of the Political and Ideological Department of the Security Forces in Chenaran, the charges brought against Mr. Kuhestanian Kushki and two other defendants were collectively announced as “supply, distribution, and dealing narcotics; hiding and possession of a weapon; and connection with armed Afghan hoodlums.” 

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 authorities have brought trumped-up charges, including drug trafficking, sexual, and other criminal offences, against their opponents (including political, civil society activists, as well as unionists and ethnic and religious minorities). Thousands of alleged drug traffickers have been sentenced to death following judicial processes that fail to meet international standards. Scores of them were executed based on a 1989 law imposing mandatory death sentences on drug traffickers found in possession of specified amounts of proscribed narcotics (5 kg of hashish or opium, and more than 30 grams of heroin, codeine or methadone). The exact number of people convicted based on trumped-up charges is unknown.

Evidence of guilt

The evidence presented against Mr. Kuhestanian Kushki was “possession of 3,070 kilograms of opium, over 400 kilograms of morphine, and possession of five Kalashnikovs and 14 magazines.” 

Defense

No information is available on Mr. Kuhestanian Kushki’s defense.

Judgment

Branch Nine of the Islamic Revolutionary Court in Mashhad condemned Mr. Hossein Kuhestanian Kushki to death and the Supreme Court confirmed the ruling. He was hanged, along with two others, in public in Chenaran. No information is available about the date of this execution.

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