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

Bahman Eslami

About

Nationality: Iran
Religion: Presumed Muslim
Civil Status: Unknown

Case

Date of Killing: November 6, 2000
Location of Killing: Tehran, Tehran Province, Iran
Mode of Killing: Hanging
Charges: Disrupting public order

About this Case

News of the execution of Mr. Bahman Eslami, known as Kambiz Torkeh, was published in the Jomhuri Eslami newspaper on November 11, 2000 and the Entekhab newspaper on November 8, 2000. Additional information was taken from the Entekhab newspaper on October 24, 2000 and the website of Lathayetehran.

According to the existing information, Mr. Eslami was a champion in the Kamp neighborhood near Satarkhan Street in Tehran (website of Lathayetehran). He was once arrested for sedition and hooliganism in 1997. Branch Two of the Islamic Revolutionary Court condemned him to death. However, this ruling was not confirmed by the Supreme Court and his case was returned to the Revolutionary Court for retrial. During the second trial, he defended himself and was condemned to 15 years imprisonment. The Supreme Court confirmed the ruling. In 1998 when Mr. Eslami was transferred to a prison in Karaj, he was able to escape with the help of friends. (Entekhab newspaper on October 24, 2000)

Arrest and detention

Mr. Eslami was traced and arrested by police detectives, prison agents, and Intelligence Ministry agents during a special police operation in Hashemi Street in Tehran a year after his escape in 1999 (Entekhab newspaper on October 24, 2000). The circumstances of his arrest and detention are not known.

Trial

Branch 28 of the Islamic Revolutionary Court of Tehran tried Mr. Eslami in several sessions. However, no information is available on his trial. (Jomhuri Eslami newspaper)

Charges

According to the Social and informational Deputy of Judiciary, the charges brought against Mr. Eslami were announced as “several incidents of assault and battery using a knife and cutlass, creating fear and insecurity, threatening to murder, kidnapping people’s children, occupying people’s land forcefully, and drinking alcoholic beverages.” (Jomhuri Eslami newspaper).

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 authorities have brought trumped-up charges, including drug trafficking, sexual, and other criminal offences, against their opponents (including political, civil society activists, as well as unionists and ethnic and religious minorities). Each year Iranian authorities sentence to death hundreds of alleged common criminals, following judicial processes that fail to meet international standards. The exact number of people convicted and executed based on trumped-up charges is unknown.

Evidence of guilt

According to the existing information, the evidence presented against Mr. Eslami was “having a record for sedition and hooliganism,” and “his escape from the prison.”

Defense

No information is available on Mr. Eslami’s defense. However, his attorney was present during the trial.

Judgment

Branch 28 of the Islamic Revolutionary Court of Tehran identified Mr. Bahman Eslami as Mofsed [corruptor on Earth] and condemned him to death. The Supreme Court confirmed the ruling. He was hanged in Tehran on November 6, 2000 at dawn.

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