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

Haji Mohammad Zia'i

About

Age: 55
Nationality: Iran
Religion: Islam (Sunni)
Civil Status: Unknown

Case

Date of Killing: July 20, 1994
Location of Killing: Zarindasht, Shahzadeh Moslem, Fars Province, Iran
Mode of Killing: Other extrajudicial method
Charges: Religious offense

About this Case

The information about the extrajudicial killing of Haji Mohammad Zia'i is drawn from reports by Amnesty International published in 1995 and 1996. A Sunni Muslim leader from Bandar-Abbas, Mr. Zia'i was known to be critical of government policies.

"Amnesty International includes in its definition of extrajudicial executions the killing of specific individuals which can reasonably be assumed to be the result of government policy at any level."

Arrest and detention

According to Amnesty International, Mr. Haji Mohammad Zia'i was arrested in 1981. During the period of his detention in 1981, he was reportedly tortured for several weeks. Although he was released later, he continued to be harassed. This harassment reportedly increased after the execution of Dr Ali Mozaffarian (another Sunni Leader) in 1992. Haji Mohammad Zia'i had to travel to Tehran once a month for interrogation. He was reportedly summoned for interrogation at the Security Headquarters in Laar, in Fars province, on July 15, 1994. During his last interrogation he was reportedly promised that he could open the Sunni Mosque in Shiraz, which had been closed for some time, and that there would be no need for further interrogations.

Trial

No information is available on the defendant’s trial.

Charges

The charges brought against Mr. Zia'i are not known.

Evidence of guilt

Amnesty International reports that in 1981, Mr. Zia'i had been arrested allegedly for giving an interview to a Kuwaiti magazine in which he highlighted the plight of Sunni Muslims in Iran and condemned the execution of Iranian opposition activists.

Defense

No information is available on Mr. Zia'i's defense.

Judgment

Mr. Zia'i was sentenced to death in 1981 and later released. On July 20, 1994, five days after he had been summoned for interrogation in Lar, his mutilated body was found in a valley around the Shah-Mossallam area, some 200 kilometers from Laar. His body was reportedly beheaded, and one arm and one leg had been amputated. Security officials in Laar reportedly attributed his death to a car accident. "However, this account differs from eye-witness reports [received by Amnesty International] which suggest that his mutilated body was found separately from the car, which did not bear signs consistent with the alleged accident."

Correct/ Complete This Entry