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

Haj Baba Rahimi

About

Nationality: Iran
Religion: Presumed Muslim
Civil Status: Unknown

Case

Date of Killing: July 3, 1980
Location of Killing: Shiraz, Fars Province, Iran
Mode of Killing: Shooting
Charges: Drug trafficking

About this Case

The execution of Mr. Haj Baba Rahimi and 15 others was reported by the correspondents of the Jomhuri Eslami and Kayhan dailies in Shiraz (July 5, 1980).

Arrest and detention

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

Trial

Based on the Jomhuri Eslami report, the religious judge traveled to Shiraz and, after visiting the Revolutionary Guard (Pasdaran) headquarters of Shiraz, headed for the Shiraz Tribunal, where he examined the cases of sixteen individuals charged with a range of crimes from killing and suppression of revolutionary combatants to drug dealing and sodomy. Mr. Rahimi was one of the defendants.

Charges

While the Jomhuri Eslami daily solely referred to Mr. Rahimi as a “drug dealer,” based on the Kayhan daily report, he was specifically charged with “carrying and keeping 15 kilograms of opium.”

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’s authorities have brought trumped up charges against their political opponents and executed them for drug trafficking, sexual, and other criminal offences. Thousands of alleged drug traffickers have been sentenced to death following judicial processes that fail to meet international standards. The exact number of people convicted based on trumped-up charges is unknown.

Evidence of guilt

The reports contain no information regarding the evidence presented against the defendant at the trial.

Defense

No information is available on the defendant’s defense.

Judgment

The judge sentenced the defendant to death. The Jomhuri Eslami report specifies that the sentence included confiscation of property for six of the accused. It is not clear whether or not Mr. Rahimi’s properties were confiscated.

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