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

Nejat Shahbazi

About

Nationality: Iran
Religion: Presumed Muslim
Civil Status: Unknown

Case

Date of Killing: November 16, 1980
Location of Killing: Hamedan Province, Iran
Mode of Killing: Unspecified execution method
Charges: Drug trafficking

About this Case

The execution of Mr. Nejat Shahbazi and 9 others was reported by the correspondent of Pars News Agency in Hamedan. This execution was ordered by an itinerant religious judge passing through the region at night on November 15th. The Jomhuri Eslami daily published the report (November 17, 1980).

Arrest and detention

Based on the report, the arrest was carried out by the officials of the Islamic Revolutionary Committee of Merianj and the anti-narcotics task force accompanying the itinerant religious judge in the middle of the night.

Trial

No trial was held. The Pars News correspondent notes that the case received the “necessary considerations” by the itinerant religious judge in the village of Merianj.

Charges

The specific charge against the defendant is unknown. However, the report notes that Mr. Shahbazi was one of the “well-known drug producers and dealers.”

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. 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 based on trumped-up charges is unknown.

Evidence of guilt

The charge against this defendant is reportedly based on confessions of two drug addicts arrested and interrogated after being noticed in a gas station that night by the itinerant religious judge.

Defense

The report provides no information about whether or not the defendant was given an opportunity to defend himself in the few hours he was detained.

Judgment

The religious judge sentenced Mr. Shahbazi to death sometime between his arrest during the night and his execution at 11:00 a.m. The sentence was carried out in the Merianj cemetery.

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