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

Abdolaziz D.

About

Age: 25
Nationality: Iran
Religion: Presumed Muslim
Civil Status: Unknown

Case

Date of Killing: December 21, 2006
Location of Killing: Khorasan-e Jonubi Province, Iran
Mode of Killing: Hanging
Charges: Drug trafficking
Age at time of alleged offense: 25

About this Case

News of the execution of Mr. Abdolaziz D., son of Azim, along with another individual was announced by the websites of Central Justice Office (January 10, 2007) and Iscanews (March 11, 2007).

His case and those of two others pertains to trafficking illegal drugs in the area along the border between Iran and Afghanistan during June/July 2006. 

Arrest and detention

Mr. Abdolaziz D. was arrested, along with two others, by the police force on the border on July 2, 2007 and he spent six months in prison. 

Trial

Mr. Abdolaziz D. and two other defendants were tried by the Islamic Revolutionary Court of Qaen County in Khorasan-e Jonoubi Province. However, there is no information available on the details of the session or sessions of his trial. 

Charges

Mr. Abdolaziz D. was charged with “trafficking illegal drugs.”

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 “discovery of 64 kilograms of opium in three backpacks, as well as the confessions of the defendants” were entered as evidence of guilt against Mr. Abdolaziz D.

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

There is no information available on the details of Mr. Abdolaziz D.’s defense. 

Judgment

The Islamic Revolutionary Court of Qaen sentenced Mr. Abdolaziz D. to death. The verdict was validated by the Supreme Court as well as the Chief Public Prosecutor. Mr. Abdolaziz D. was hanged, along with another individual, in Qaen County on December 21, 2006

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