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

M. H.

About

Nationality: Iran
Religion: Islam
Civil Status: Unknown

Case

Date of Killing: January 10, 2016
Location of Killing: Lar, Fars Province, Iran
Mode of Killing: Hanging
Charges: Drug trafficking

About this Case

News of the execution of Mr. M. H., along with two other individuals, was announced by the news and analysis website of Sohbat (January 10, 2016), citing an informed authority, as well as the website of the Fars Province Office of Radio and Television (January 11, 2016), citing the head of the provincial Ministry of Justice office of Larestan.

Mr. M. H., between 35 and 40 years old, was from the Kuwar or Kouhmareh Sorkhi counties of Fars Province. His case pertains to armed trafficking of illegal drugs. 

Arrest and detention

Mr. M. H. was arrested by the police force in the course of an armed struggle along the Shiraz-Bandar Abbas Road in April/May 2015. One of the traffickers was killed during the struggle. After the records of the killed trafficker were investigated, it became clear that he had been a murderer and a convict who had escaped from Eqlid Prison. Mr. M. H. spent eight months in prison. However, there is no further information available on the details of his arrest and detention. 

Trial

Mr. M. H. went on trial in Fars Province. However, there is no information available on the details of the session or sessions of his trial. 

Charges

Mr. M. H. was charged with “armed trafficking of illegal drugs.”

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). Thousands of alleged drug traffickers have been sentenced to death following judicial processes that fail to meet international standards. Scores of them were executed based on a 1989 law imposing mandatory death sentences on drug traffickers found in possession of specified amounts of proscribed narcotics (5 kg of hashish or opium, and more than 30 grams of heroin, codeine or methadone). The exact number of people convicted based on trumped-up charges is unknown. 

Evidence of guilt

There is no information available on details of the evidence of guilt entered against Mr. M. H. 

Defense

There is no information available on the details of Mr. M. H.’s defense. 

Judgment

Mr. M. H. was sentenced to death. His verdict was issued on November 18, 2015. Mr. M. H. was hanged, along with two other individuals, in the courtyard of Larestan Prison on January 10, 2016. The issued verdict stated that the convicts should be hanged publicly; however, for security reasons they were hanged inside the prison.

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