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

Mohammad Reza Torabi

About

Age: 17
Nationality: Iran
Religion: Non-Believer
Civil Status: Unknown

Case

Date of Killing: October 13, 1981
Location of Killing: Bandar Abbas, Hormozgan Province, Iran
Mode of Killing: Shooting
Charges: Armed rebellion against the Islamic Republic; Attempt to assassinate or assassination of state dignitaries; Living in safe houses; Membership of anti-regime guerilla group; Prostitution and/or procuring

About this Case

News of the execution of Mr. Mohammad Reza (Amin) Torabi, son of Hossein, along with four others, was published in the Jomhuri Eslami newspaper on October 14, 1981. The Public Relations Department of the Central Public Prosecutor’s Office issued an announcement concerning these executions, the defendants’ names, and their charges, and released it to the media. Mr. Torabi is one of the 430 individuals whose names appear on the list of “Martyrs of the Peykar Organization for the Liberation of the Working Class” published on the website of Andeesheh va Peykar. He is also among the 12,028 individuals listed in an addendum to the Mojahed magazine (No 261), published by the Mojahedin Khalq Organization on September 6, 1985. The list includes individuals, affiliated with various opposition groups, who were executed or killed during clashes with the Islamic Republic security forces from June 1981 to the publication date of the magazine.

The Peykar Organization for the Liberation of the Working Class was founded by a number of dissident members of the Mojahedin Khalq Organization 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 Peykar included the rejection of guerrilla struggle and a strong stand against the pro-Soviet policies of 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 splits within Peykar in 1981 and 1982 effectively dismantled the Organization and scattered its supporters. By the mid-1980s, Peykar was no longer in existence.

Arrest and detention

The circumstances of this defendant’s arrest and detention are not known.

Trial

No information is available on the defendant’s trial.

Charges

The Public Relations Department of the Central Public Prosecutor’s Office announced the charges against Mr. Torabi as: “membership in terrorist teams, armed uprising against the ruling of Allah, planning and participating in several robberies, stealing a car and its license plaque, robbing several banks, frequenting the team houses, and corruption and prostitution nests in Tehran, Karaj, and Bandar Abbas, importing weapons into Bandar Abbas, recovered G3, Uzi, and Colt weapons in addition to bullets and grenades, collecting financial aid for the terrorist organization of Hypocrites [Mojahedin Khalq], identifying the personnel of the Revolutionary Guards, Basij, Bandar Abbas police, and some Hezbollah individuals for assassination, being responsible for all assassinations in Bandar Abbas, attacking and disarming some police officers in Bandar Abbas, arson of houses and shops, and forging public documents and IDs for various individuals.” These charges were announced against five defendants collectively.

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

The report of this execution does not contain information regarding the evidence provided against the defendant. The above announcement, however, stated “recovered G3, Uzi, and Colt weapons in addition to bullets and grenades, collecting financial aid for the terrorist organization of Hypocrites [Mojahedin Khalq]” for all five defendants.

Defense

No information is available on Mr. Torabi's defense.

Judgment

َThe Islamic Revolutionary Court of Bandar Abbas identified Mr. Torabi as “corruptor on earth, enemy of God and the Prophet, and a rebel” and condemned him to death. He was executed on October 13, 1981.

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