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

Hojjatollah Amirfathi

About

Nationality: Iran
Religion: Presumed Muslim
Civil Status: Unknown

Case

Date of Killing: April 15, 1979
Location of Killing: Ardebil, Ardebil Province, Iran
Mode of Killing: Shooting
Charges: Sedition and/ or threat to public security; Corruption on earth; Association with the Shah's idolatrous regime

About this Case

Major Hojjatollah Amirfathi is one of 438 victims listed in a March 13, 1980 Amnesty International report. The report lists defendants who were convicted by Revolutionary Tribunals in the period from their inception until 12 August 1979. The list of victims and charges is drawn from sources including translations of indictments, reports of trials carried out by local and foreign media and the bulletins of the official Pars News Agency reports.

Further information regarding Major Amirfathi’s execution was sent to Omid via an electronic form by a person familiar with this case.

Arrest and detention

According to the electronic form, Major Amirfathi was arrested by the Tehran Committee on April 13, 1979 at 10 am. He was taken to Qasr Prison for one day before being transferred to the Revolutionary Committee of Ardebil. He detained for two days during which he had a short visit with his family.

Trial

Based on the available information on the form, Major Amirfathi was tried at Ardebil’s former police headquarters on April 14, 1979. His trial reportedly lasted 5 hours and he was denied an attorney.

Charges

The charges against Major Amirfathi, as listed in the Amnesty International report, are: “corruption on earth, war on God, mass murder, destroying property, illegal entry into people’s houses, as well as armed attack and/or attacking people’s homes.”

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 executed individuals on trumped up-charges such as drug trafficking, sexual, and other criminal offences. The exact number of people convicted based on trumped-up charges is unknown.

Evidence of guilt

According to the form, the evidence used against Major Amirfathi was the complaints against him by some former members of the SAVAK [former regime’s political police]. On the form it is mentioned that the witnesses against the defendant were ill-intentioned and accused him of charges for which they did not have sufficient evidence.

Defense

No information is available on his defense except that he had no legal representation.

Judgment

Mr. Hojjatollah Amirfathi was sentenced to death and executed on April 15, 1979 at the Ardebil Committee. No further information is available regarding this defendant’s sentencing.

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