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

Mohammad L.

About

Age: 54
Nationality: Iran
Religion: Presumed Muslim
Civil Status: Unknown

Case

Date of Killing: 2004
Location of Killing: Gonabad, Khorasan\Khorasan-e Razavi Province, Iran
Mode of Killing: Hanging
Charges: Drug trafficking
Age at time of alleged offense: 53

About this Case

News of the execution of Mr. Mohammad L., along with another person, was published in the Kayhan newspaper on January 4, 2004, quoting the Head of Political and Ideological Police Commander in Gonabad. He was from Zabol, where he resided, and his case was related to drug trafficking.

Arrest and detention

Mr. Mohammad L. was arrested in 2002. The circumstances of his arrest and detention are not known.

Trial

Mr. Mohammad L. was tried in Gonabad. No information is available on his trial.

Charges

The charge brought against Mr. Mohammad L. was announced as “transportation of narcotics.”  

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 authorities have brought trumped-up charges, including drug trafficking, sexual, and other criminal offences, against their opponents (including political, civil society activists, as well as unionists and ethnic and religious minorities). Thousands of alleged drug traffickers have been sentenced to death following judicial processes that fail to meet international standards. Scores of them were executed based on a 1989 law imposing mandatory death sentences on drug traffickers found in possession of specified amounts of proscribed narcotics (5 kg of hashish or opium, and more than 30 grams of heroin, codeine or methadone). The exact number of people convicted based on trumped-up charges is unknown.

Evidence of guilt

The evidence presented against Mr. Mohammad L. was announced as “possession of 38 kilograms of heroin and 10 kilograms of opium.” The same evidence was used against the other defendant, who was arrested a year before him.

Defense

No information is available on Mr. Mohammad L.’s defense.

Judgment

Mr. Mohammad L. was condemned to death and the Supreme Court confirmed the ruling. He was hanged, along with another person, in Gonabad in early 2004. No specific information is available about the defendant’s execution.

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