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

Morteza Laqa'i

About

Nationality: Iran
Religion: Non-Believer
Civil Status: Unknown

Case

Date of Killing: August, 1983
Location of Killing: Evin Prison, Tehran, Tehran Province, Iran
Mode of Killing: Unspecified execution method
Charges: Unknown charge

About this Case

The information regarding Mr. Morteza Laqa’i’s execution was sent to Omid via an electronic form by a person familiar with this case. Mr. Laqa’i, a member of the Peykar Organization, was studying agriculture at University. He is remembered for both his love of philosophy and strong commitment to his ideology.

Mr. Laqa'i's name is also one of the 430 individuals whose name appears on "The Martyrs of the Peykar Organization for the Liberation of the Working Class" in the andishevapeykar website. The list includes members of the party who were killed following the 1979 revolution. More than 400 of these individuals were executed.

The Peykar Organization for the Liberation of the Working Class was founded by a number of dissident members of the Mojahedin Khalq Organization (MKO) who had converted to Marxism-Leninism. Peykar was also joined by a number of political organizations, known as Khat-e Se (Third line). The founding tenets of the Peykar Organization included the rejection of the guerrilla struggle and a strong stand against the pro-Soviet policies embraced by the Iranian Tudeh Party. Peykar viewed the Soviet Union as a "Social imperialist" state, believed that China had deviated from the Marxist-Leninist principles, and radically opposed all factions of the Islamic regime of Iran. The brutal repression of dissidents by the Iranian government and the split within the Peykar during 1981 and 1982 effectively dismantled the Organization and scattered its supporters. By the mid-1980s, the Peykar Organization no longer existed.

Arrest and detention

Based on the available information, Mr. Laqa’i and his friend were arrested around noon during September, 1982, at Meydan Shush in Tehran, on the suspicion that he participated in an anti-revolutionary political organization. He was first taken to the local Committee and shortly thereafter jailed at Evin Prison. He was detained for 11 months. During the first eight months he was allowed visits with his family. The prisoners were separated from their families by a glass window during the visits.

After seven months in prison Mr. Laqa’i’s political activities were revealed, but it is unclear how the authorities discovered this information. Following that discovery, Mr. Laqa'i was denied any visitation from his family. He had no access to an attorney during his detention.

Trial

No information is available on the defendant’s trial.

Charges

There is no information regarding the charges brought against this defendant.

Evidence of guilt

The report of this execution contains no evidence provided against the defendant.

Defense

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

Judgment

The details of this defendant’s sentencing are not known. Mr. Laqa’i was executed at Evin Prison. The authorities did not return the body to the family but informed the family in August that he was executed and gave them the name of the cemetery (Khavaran Cemetery) and the grave number.

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