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

Azizollah Taherkhani

About

Nationality: Iran
Religion: Presumed Muslim
Civil Status: Unknown

Case

Date of Killing: June 29, 1980
Location of Killing: Qasr Prison, Tehran, Tehran Province, Iran
Mode of Killing: Unspecified execution method
Charges: Drug trafficking

About this Case

The execution of Mr. Azizollah Taherkhani and another individual was reported by the correspondent of Jomhuri Eslami daily in Qazvin (June 24, 1980)

Arrest and detention

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

Trial

The report mentioned that Mr. Taherkhani’s case was examined at the Islamic Revolutionary Tribunal for Combatting Drugs and Narcotics located at Qasr Prison. However, no specific information about the circumstances of the trial was provided.

Charges

Based on this report, Mr. Taherkhani was charged with “having frequent criminal records in distributing drugs.” However, another report in the Ettela’at daily (June 24, 1980) listed the defendant’s charges as “participation in armed demonstrations” and “showing off his power with a dagger.”

The validity of the criminal charges brought against defendants 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’s authorities have brought trumped up charges against their political opponents and executed them for drug trafficking, sexual, and other criminal offences. The exact number of people convicted based on trumped-up charges is unknown.

Evidence of guilt

The report of this execution does not contain information regarding the evidence provided against the defendant.

Defense

No information is available on the accused’s defense.

Judgment

Based on the report, Mr. Taherkhani was sentenced to death. He was executed at dawn.

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