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

Qodratollah Eskandari

About

Age: 27
Nationality: Iran
Religion: Presumed Muslim
Civil Status: Unknown

Case

Date of Killing: February 22, 1989
Location of Killing: Zanjan, Zanjan Province, Iran
Mode of Killing: Stoning
Charges: Adultery; Prostitution and/or procuring

About this Case

News of the execution by stoning of Mr. Qodratollah Eskandari, along with three others, was published in the Jomhuri Eslami newspaper on February 23, 1989. According to the same source, two other members of this gang had been previously stoned.

Arrest and Detention

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

Trial

No information is available on the defendant’s trial. It took place in the Islamic Revolutionary Court of Zanjan.

Charges

The charges against Mr. Eskandari were announced as “adultery, establishing a gang of corruption and prostitution, and taking advantages of women and girls.”

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 Islamic Republic authorities have brought trumped-up charges against their political opponents and executed them for alleged 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 report of this execution does not contain information regarding the evidence provided against the defendant.

Defense

No information is available on Mr. Eskandari’s defense.

Judgment

The court condemned Mr. Qodratollah Eskandari to death by stoning. The Supreme Court and the Supreme Judiciary Council confirmed the ruling. He was stoned on February 22, 1989 in the presence of the religious judge of the Islamic Revolutionary Court and some people in Zanjan.

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