Mr. Mohammad Jamebozorg stood firm in defending his rights until the very last moments of his life.

Information regarding the extrajudicial execution of Mr. Mohammad Jamebozorg, son of Ezat, was obtained from an interview conducted by the Sharq Network website with Mr. Jamebozorg's son (April 27, 2023; January 13, 2024). Additional details were gathered from the BBC Persian website (May 2 and May 7, 2023), the Voice of America YouTube channel (September 25, 2023), and the Modara News website (September 2, 2024).

Mr. Mohammad Jamebozorg was born on March 23, 1963 in Tuyserkan, a city in Hamadan Province. He resided in the city of Malard, Tehran Province, with his wife, Mrs. Maryam Jafari, and their two sons, Mas'ud and Meysam. He owned and managed a carpet shop across the street from his home. (Sharq Network, April 27, 2023; BBC Persian, September 3, 2024)

Mr. Jamebozorg was killed in his home in the early hours of September 24, 2022, by IRGC-affiliated security forces during the "Woman, Life, Freedom" protests.

2022 (Mahsa Amini) Protest background

Nationwide protests were sparked by the death in custody of 22-year old Kurdish woman Jina (Mahsa) Amini on September 16, 2022. Amini had been arrested by the morality police in Tehran for improper veiling on September 13 and sent brain dead to the hospital. The news of her death triggered protests, which started with a widespread expression of outrage on social media and the gathering of a large crowd in front of the hospital,continued in the city of Saqqez (Kordestan Province), where Mahsa was buried. Popular exasperation over the morality patrols and the veil in general, aggravated by misleading statements of the authorities regarding the cause of Mahsa’s death and the impunity generally granted to state agents for the violence used against detainees led to months of nationwide protests. Initially led by young girls and women who burned their veils, and youth in general, protesters adopted the slogan “Women, Life, Freedom,” chanted during Amini’s burial. The protest rapidly took on a clear anti-regime tone, with protesters calling for an end to the Islamic Republic. 

The scope and duration of the protest was unprecedented. State efforts to withdraw the morality police from the streets and preventative arrests of journalists and political and civil society activists did not stop the protests. By the end of December 2022, protests had taken place in about 164 cities and towns, including localities that had never witnessed protests. Close to 150 universities, high schools, businesses, and groups including oil workers, merchants of the Tehran bazaar (among others), teachers, lawyers (at least 49 of whom had been arrested as of February 1st, 2023), artists, athletes, and even doctors joined these protests in various forms. Despite the violent crackdown and mass arrests, intense protests continued for weeks, at least through November 2022, with reports of sporadic activity continuing through the beginning of 2023.

The State’s crackdown was swift and accompanied by intermittent landline and cellular internet network shutdowns, as well as threats against and arrests of victims’ family members, factors which posed a serious challenge to monitoring protests and documenting casualties. The security forces used illegal, excessive, and lethal force with handguns, shotguns, and military assault rifles against protesters. They often targeted protesters’ heads and chests, shot them at close range, and in the back. Security forces have targeted faces with pellets, causing hundreds of protesters to lose their eyesight, and according to some reports women’s genitalia. The bloodiest crackdown took place on September 30th in Zahedan, Baluchestan Province, where a protest began at the end of the Friday sermon. The death toll is reported to be above 90 for that day. Security forces shot protesters outside and worshipers inside the Mosala prayer hall. Many injured protesters, fearing arrest, did not go to hospitals where security forces have reportedly arrested injured protesters before and after they were treated.

By February 1, 2023, the Human Rights Activists News Agency reported the number of recorded protests to be 1,262. The death toll, including protesters and passersby, stood at 527, of whom 71 were children. The number of arrests (including of wounded protesters) was estimated at a minimum at 22,000 , of whom 766 had already been tried and convicted. More than 100 protesters were at risk of capital punishment, and four had been executed in December 2022 and January 2023 without minimum standards of due process. Authorities also claimed 70 casualties among state forces, though there are consistent reports from families of killed protesters indicating authorities have pressured them or offered them rewards to falsely register their loved ones as such. Protesters, human rights groups, and the media have reported cases of beatings, torture (including to coerce confessions), and sexual assaults. Detainees have no access to lawyers during interrogations and their confessions are used in courts as evidence.

Public support and international solidarity with protesters have also been unprecedented (the use of the hashtag #MahsaAmini in Farsi and English broke world records) and on November 24, 2022, the UN Human Rights Council adopted a resolution calling for the creation of a fact finding mission to “Thoroughly and independently investigate alleged human rights violations in the Islamic Republic of Iran related to the protests that began on 16 September 2022, especially with respect to women and children.”

Background of Extrajudicial Killings by the Islamic Republic of Iran

The Islamic Republic of Iran has a long history of politically motivated violence in Iran and around the world. Since the 1979 Revolution, Islamic Republic operatives inside and outside the country have engaged in kidnapping, disappearing, and killing a large number of individuals whose activities they deemed undesirable. The actual number of the victims of extrajudicial killings inside Iran is not clear; however, these murders began in February 1979 and have continued since then, both inside and outside Iran. The Abdorrahman Boroumand Center has so far identified over 540 killings outside Iran attributed to the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Dissidents have been assassinated by the agents of the Islamic Republic outside Iran in countries such as the Philippines, Indonesia, Japan, India, and Pakistan in Asia; Dubai, Iraq, and Turkey in the Middle East; Cyprus, France, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Germany, Norway, Sweden, and Great Britain in Europe; and the United States across the Atlantic Ocean. In most cases, there has not been much published, and local authorities have not issued arrest warrants. But documentation, evidence, and traces obtained through investigations conducted by local police and judicial authorities confirm the theory of state committed crimes. In some instances, these investigations have resulted in the expulsion or arrest of Iranian diplomats. In a few cases outside Iran, the perpetrators of these murders have been arrested and put on trial. The evidence presented revealed the defendants’ connection to Iran’s government institutions, and an arrest warrant has been issued for Iran’s Minister of Information.

The manner in which these killings were organized and implemented in Iran and abroad is indicative of a single pattern which, according to Roland Chatelin, the Swiss prosecutor, contains common parameters and detailed planning. It can be ascertained from the similarities between these murders in different countries that the Iranian government is the principal entity that ordered the implementation of these crimes. Iranian authorities have not officially accepted responsibility for these murders and have even attributed their commission to internal strife in opposition groups. Nevertheless, since the very inception of the Islamic Republic regime, the Islamic Republic officials have justified these crimes from an ideological and legal standpoint. In the spring of 1979, Sadeq Khalkhali, the first Chief Shari’a Judge of the Islamic Revolutionary Courts, officially announced the regime’s decision to implement extrajudicial executions and justified the decision: “ … These people have been sentenced to death; from the Iranian people’s perspective, if someone wants to assassinate these individuals abroad, in any country, no government has any right to bring the perpetrator to trial as a terrorist, because such a person is the implementing agent of the sentence issued by the Islamic Revolutionary Court. Therefore, they are Mahduroddam and their sentence is death regardless of where they are.” More than 10 years after these proclamations, in a speech about the security forces’ success, Ali Fallahian, the regime’s Minister of Information, stated the following regarding the elimination of members of the opposition: “ … We have had success in inflicting damage to many of these little groups outside the country and on our borders.”

At the same time, various political, judicial, and security officials of the Islamic Republic of Iran have, at different times and occasions, confirmed the existence of a long term government policy for these extrajudicial killings and in some cases their implementation. 

Read more about the background of extrajudicial killings in the Islamic Republic of Iran by clicking on the left hand highlight with the same title. 

Mr.  Mohammad Jamebozorg’s threats and extrajudicial execution

According to available information, Mr. Mohammad Jamebozorg was fatally shot in his home during the early morning hours of September 24, 2022, by security forces using a pellet gun.

On September 22, 2022, during the "Woman, Life, Freedom" protests, the street where Mr. Jamebozorg lived in Malard became the site of public demonstrations. On that day, Mr. Jamebozorg's eldest son, Mas'ud, witnessed the violence of the security forces against the demonstrators. Disturbed by the events, he closed the carpet shop earlier than usual and went home.

As Mas'ud Jamebozorg was crossing the street, a plainclothes officer approached him from behind, forcibly grabbed his shirt, accused him of participating in the protests, and attempted to arrest him. Mas'ud resisted this action and tried to push the officer's hand away without getting into a physical altercation. He then approached his younger brother, Meysam, who was standing at the entrance to their home, and shouted, "This is our house, and that across the street is our shop."  Several other officers who had witnessed the confrontation approached them at that moment. They used force and attempted to arrest Mas'ud. Hoping to escape the situation, Mas'ud grabbed his brother's hand and resisted the unlawful arrest. However, the number of officials increased to six and they tried to arrest both brothers.

Mr. Mohammad Jamebozorg, who was inside the house, noticed the commotion and rushed to help his sons with a shovel. As several officers had entered the family's yard to arrest them, they retreated when they saw Mr. Jamebozorg. Taking advantage of the moment, the two brothers quickly closed and locked the door to prevent the officers from re-entering. Despite this, the security forces did not cease their efforts to arrest the brothers. They escalated their violent attack by throwing tear gas into the yard, breaking the windows of the house, and continuing their aggressive assault.

Mr. Mohammad Jamebozorg, enraged by the unfolding events, refused to return to the house with his sons. He stated, "These actions are illegal and they have no right to do this." (Sharq News Agency, April 27, 2023)

Before leaving the scene, the security forces marked the wall of Mr. Jamebozorg's house with spray paint. (BBC Persian, May 2, 2023)

The next day, September 23, Mr. Mohammad Jamebozorg was outside his home cleaning up the broken glass left by the security forces' attack. An unknown man approached him and said, "I have known your family for years. I know that you are a good family and that you have lived in this neighborhood for a long time." He then informed Mr. Jamebozorg that there had been discussions at the local Basij base about arresting him or one of his sons. When Mr. Jamebozorg inquired about the man's identity and intentions, the man replied, "Don't ask; just be aware." However, Mr. Jamebozorg ignored the warning, and in response to his son's concern and suggestion that he leave the house for a while, he replied, "We haven't done anything wrong to justify running away.

At approximately 3:30 a.m. on September 24, a man wearing a medical mask rang the doorbell of Mr. Jamebozorg's home. Suspecting that security forces had returned to arrest them, Mr. Jamebozorg's sons saw the man's picture on the intercom and fled to a neighbor's house via the roof. Mr. Mohammad Jamebozorg also went to the roof and hid there.

Minutes later, the officers climbed over the wall and entered Mr. Jamebozorg's home. They questioned Mr. Jamebozorg's wife about his whereabouts. After searching the house, the officers found Mr. Jamebozorg on the roof. They attempted to arrest him without a warrant.

Mr. Jamebozorg resisted and firmly told them, "Even if there are a thousand of you, you cannot take me without a warrant." His sons, who were hiding in the neighbor's house, heard their father shouting at the officers:  "My store is right across the street from my house, and everybody knows it. I was there until 10 p.m. - why didn't you arrest me there? If what you're doing is legal, why did you come at this time of night? If you have a warrant, go and come back in the morning."

The head of the team sent to arrest Mr. Jamebozorg responded to his resistance with a threat: "If you don't come with us, I'll call the second team. When they come, they will kill you."

After Mr. Jamebozorg refused to comply, a second team of six tall and physically strong men arrived at his home. Two of the officers grabbed Mr. Jamebozorg's wife, and took her to the second floor of the house, closing the door behind them. Moments later, Mrs. Jafari heard the sound of a gunshot followed by the sound of a body hitting the roof.

Mrs. Maryam Jafari, determined to reach the rooftop, met a security officer and asked anxiously, "What have you done to my husband? Did you kill him?" The officer replied, "Nothing happened. We brought him down, but he's not feeling well." Distraught, Mrs. Jafari rushed back into the house to get water for her husband. But the same officer took the glass away from her and told her to stay inside. Unable to bear the uncertainty, Mrs. Jafari went to the roof a few minutes later, where she found her husband lying alone on the ground. Seeing that his body was still warm, she thought at first that he was alive. But when she looked at his face, she saw that the back of his head was soaked in blood and that one of his eyes had been hit by a bullet.  Mr. Jamebozorg was buried in Malard. (Sharq Network, April 27, 2023; BBC Persian, May 2 and May 7, 2023) 

Officials’ Reaction

Security forces exerted pressure and issued threats to the Jamebozorg family in an attempt to dissuade them from pursuing legal action over the killing of Mr. Mohammad Jamebozorg. Despite these efforts, Mr. Rafi'i, the presiding investigator at the time from Branch One of the West Tehran Military Prosecutor's Office, issued arrest warrants for the officers involved in the killing. The IRGC's Intelligence Protection Organization was designated as the special investigator for the case. Consequently, 12 of the 14 officers implicated in Mr. Jamebozorg's killing were arrested and formally charged.  The organization reported that the remaining two suspects were fleeing and could not be arrested. (Sharq Network, April 27, 2023)

Investigation and verdict of the military tribunal on the murder of Mr. Mohammad Jamebozorg  

The final order issued by the Prosecutor's Office, which was reviewed by Mr. Jamebozorg's legal attorney, highlighted several issues of concern. These included attempts to prevent the burial of Mr. Mohammad Jamebozorg in Malard and the filing of false reports by security officials to mislead the investigation. (Sharq Network, April 27, 2023)

The commander of the unit responsible for the operation at Mr. Jamebozorg's residence failed to obtain a warrant for the nighttime entry or to present it to the victim. Moreover, without considering the criminal background of his subordinates or providing them with proper training, he issued weapons and equipment to the team. This negligence directly facilitated the circumstances leading to Mr. Jamebozorg's death.(Sharq Network, January 13, 2024)

A thorough judicial investigation into the individual responsible for the murder of Mr. Jamebozorg revealed that the perpetrator had two prior criminal cases. One of these cases, which is currently under review by Branch One of the General and Revolutionary Prosecutor's Office in Malard, involves charges of "shooting, possession of firearms, and livestock theft." The assailant's criminal record also includes a prior conviction for "possession and storage of an illegally possessed Winchester hunting rifle."

During the judicial investigation, the assailant presented contradictory claims regarding the circumstances of the killing. He asserted that he had lost control of the weapon and that the shooting occurred from a distance. However, an analysis by a firearms expert revealed that the shot was fired intentionally, from the front, at a distance of one meter, with the intent to kill. This conclusion was corroborated by the case investigator, leading to the assailant being charged with premeditated murder.

"We are not seeking an idealized concept of justice for my father's blood - if true justice existed, my father would still be alive today." Family said.

Payam Derafshan, the attorney overseeing the case, disclosed in an interview with Sharq Network on January 13, 2024, that the preliminary ruling of the military tribunal had been issued. Branch Five of the Tehran Military Tribunal rendered its decision on January 10, 2024, concerning the defendants in the case of Mr. Mohammad Jamebozorg's killing. According to the ruling, the primary defendant, the individual who discharged the weapon that resulted in the fatality, was convicted of premeditated murder and was sentenced to Qisas (retribution).

The second defendant, the leader of the second team responsible for the operation that led to the killing, was convicted of "forced entry without a court warrant and without following regulations." His sentence was reduced and resulted in imprisonment.The third defendant, the leader of the first team, was fined due to the court's consideration of his expressed remorse and good prior criminal record. The tenth defendant, an officer who provided false information about Mr. Jamebozorg to security forces, which heightened the urgency of his arrest, was sentenced to imprisonment.The eleventh defendant, who prepared a report for the commander's office, was acquitted as no malicious intent on his part was proven.Other defendants accused of "forced entry" were acquitted after investigations revealed they had been misled by their commander into believing that a warrant for the home entry existed.

In its ruling, the court determined that a separate case should be opened for the unit commander, who was responsible for supervising his subordinates. The Fourth Branch of the Tehran Military Court of Appeals was assigned to handle the case. According to the case's lawyer, "the unit commander is responsible for recruiting untrained personnel with criminal records, providing them with firearms, authorizing a nighttime operation without the required court order, and violating the sanctity of citizens' homes." He was also negligent in ensuring that his subordinates wore standard military uniforms. (Sharq Network, January 13, 2024)

Mr. Payam Derafshan, the lawyer representing the case, announced in an interview with the Modara News website on September 2, 2024, that the Supreme Court had issued its final verdict. According to the verdict of Branch 29 of the Supreme Court, the main defendant, who was previously referred to in domestic news outlets as an "official employee of a military organization" based on the investigator's statements, was identified as a "Basiji" and sentenced to *Qisas* (retribution) for the murder of Mr. Mohammad Jamebozorg. In addition, other defendants in the case, identified in the verdict as "Pasdar" (members of the IRGC), were sentenced to short prison terms. (Modara News website, September 2, 2024) 

Familys’ Reaction

Mr. Jamebozorg's family filed a lawsuit against the security forces in the Malard court for his killing. According to Mr. Jamebozorg's sons, efforts and threats by the security forces to dissuade the family from seeking justice and taking legal action over their father's death were unsuccessful and ultimately failed. (Sharq Network, April 27, 2023)

On September 25, 2023, Mas'ud Jamebozorg, the eldest son of Mr. Mohammad Jamebozorg, in a speech at his father's grave on the first anniversary of his death, stated that he was standing at his father's resting place to honor his memory and to remind everyone of his courage in defending his rights to the end. Mas'ud stressed, "My father believed in the supremacy of the law. On both occasions when the security forces brutally attacked our home, he reminded them of his legal and civil rights. But they responded with a bullet, targeting his eye, face, and skull."

Mas'ud Jamebozorg, speaking about the pursuit of justice, said: "We are not seeking an idealized concept of justice for my father's blood - if true justice existed, my father would still be alive today. To continue my father's legacy, we fight for the enforcement of laws that some people seem to think they are above simply because they own guns. They see the law as a tool to be wielded at their discretion as if they own the lives of others. They believe they can violate the sanctity of a home or take a life whenever they please. We demand a public trial, the swift prosecution of both the perpetrators and those who ordered this crime, and their public identification. This is not only about punishing the killers and violators but also about holding accountable anyone of any rank who had a role in this crime. Punishing these people will not bring my father back. But as I said, his memory will remain in our Iran. Punishing them will serve as a lesson to ensure that no other neighbor, friend, or fellow citizen goes through the agonizing experience that my family and I have endured.  (Voice of America, September 25, 2023)

The Jamebozorg family has stated that their primary goal in seeking justice is to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future. They emphasized that they are not seeking revenge but rather to ensure that such tragedies are not repeated and to demonstrate that no one's life is more precious than another's. (Sharq Network, April 27, 2023)

Impacts on Family

There is no information available on the impact of Mr. Jamebozorg's killing on his family.