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

Manuchehr Solukitabal Vandani

About

Age: 32
Nationality: Iran
Religion: Presumed Muslim
Civil Status: Married

Case

Date of Killing: December 5, 1982
Location of Killing: Evin Prison, Tehran, Tehran Province, Iran
Mode of Killing: Fatal
Charges: Anti-revolutionary offense; Counter revolutionary opinion and/or speech; Plotting to overthrow the Islamic Republic

About this Case

The execution of Mr. Manuchehr Solukitabal Vandani, along with five others, was reported in the Jomhuri Eslami daily on December 11, 1982. The information about his charges was published in the same newspaper on June 30, 1982. An individual familiar with this case has sent Omid additional information through an electronic form.

Mr. Solukitabal Vandani was an electrical engineer and a university professor. He was also a member of the Nima Group, which was formed by officers of the Iranian army after the 1979 revolution. The indictment stressed that the Nima Group, whose members had nationalistic views and had cooperated with members of the pro-Mossadeq National Front, “had a military and a political wing and had planned to overthrow the Islamic regime.” No other background information is available on the group.

Nureddin Kianuri, Secretary General of the Tudeh Party (the Iranian pro-Soviet communist party), mentions Nima in an article dated May 2, 2000, (refer to the Rahe Tudeh website). Kianuri stresses the fact that the military branch of the Tudeh, which cooperated with the Islamic Republic’s authorities, discovered and “neutralized” the above mentioned group, as well as other groups that planned a coup against the newly established regime.

Arrest and detention

The circumstances of this defendant’s arrest and detention are not known other than Mr. Solukitabal Vandani was arrested in February/March 1982, around 11 p.m. in his house and taken to Evin prison.

Trial

The defendant, along with 4 other members of the Nima Group, was tried in the military court on June 30, 1982. There is no mention of a presence of a defense attorney for the defendants.

Charges

According to the news paper report, the military prosecutor read Mr. Solukitabal Vandani’s charges from an indictment, during his trial. The charges are as follows: “being a member of the Nima group, based on his own confessions, being dispatched to Esfahan by the group in order to attract members among the officers, and figure out the reaction of the army to a military action.” Also, it is mentioned in the indictment that he had nationalistic opinions.

The validity of the criminal charges brought against this defendant cannot be ascertained in the absence of the basic guarantees of a fair trial.

Evidence of guilt

No information is available concerning the evidence presented against the accused.

Defense

No information is available on Mr. Solukitabal Vandani’s defense.

Judgment

The Revolutionary Tribunal of the Islamic Republic of Iran Army sentenced Mr. Manuchehr Solukitabal Vandani to death and the verdict was confirmed by the Supreme Court. Mr. Solukitabal Vandani was executed on December 5, 1982.

Correct/ Complete This Entry