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

Soheil Salehi Asl Sureh

About

Nationality: Iran
Religion: Presumed Muslim
Civil Status: Unknown

Case

Date of Killing: April 27, 2003
Location of Killing: Ahvaz, Khuzestan Province, Iran
Mode of Killing: Hanging
Charges: Armed robbery

About this Case

News of the execution of Mr. Soheil Salehi Asle Sureh was published in the Jomhuri Eslami newspaper on April 29, 2003, quoting the Head of the Public Relations Office of the Khuzestan Courthouse. Additional information was taken from the Ettela’at newspaper on April 29, 2003. According to the existing information, Mr. Salehi’s case was related to armed robberies from taxi drivers around Ahvaz between April 2001 and May 2002.

Arrest and detention

Police agents of the Station 13 in Ramshir arrested Mr. Salehi in May of 2003, following a complaint filed by a taxi driver who had been injured and his vehicle stolen by Mr. Salehi (Ettela’at newspaper). The circumstances of his arrest and detention are not known.

Trial

Branch Four of the Islamic Revolutionary Court in Ahvaz tried Mr. Salehi. No information is available on his trial.

Charges

According to the existing information, the charge brought against Mr. Salehi was announced as “Moharebeh [fighting against God” (Ettela’at newspaper). He was accused of hiring taxis, threatening the drivers using a handgun, and shooting at them, and carjacking.

The validity of the criminal charges brought against this defendant cannot be ascertained in the absence of the basic guarantees of a fair trial.

Evidence of guilt

According to the existing information, the evidence presented against Mr. Salehi was his “confession,” complaints by plaintiffs, recovery of a weapon, police report, and recovery of the stolen vehicles. (Ettela’at newspaper)

International human rights organizations have repeatedly condemned the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran for its systematic use of severe torture and solitary confinement to obtain confessions from detainees and have questioned the authenticity of confessions obtained under duress.

Defense

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

Judgment

Branch Four of the Islamic Revolutionary Court in Ahvaz condemned Mr. Soheil Salehi Asle Sureh to death in public for Moharebeh [fighting against God]. Branch 32 of the Supreme Court confirmed the ruling on January 20, 2003. He was hanged in public in Ahvaz on April 27, 2003 at dawn. No specific information is available about this execution.

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