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

Sa'id Zakaria

About

Nationality: Iran
Religion: Presumed Muslim
Civil Status: Married

Case

Date of Killing: October 20, 2016
Location of Killing: Central Prison (Nedamatgah), Karaj, Alborz Province, Iran
Mode of Killing: Hanging
Charges: Drug related offense

About this Case

The execution of Mr. Sa’id Zakaria was reported by the Boroumand Foundation (October 20, 2016).  This execution, along with another execution, was also reported by Human Rights in Iran Website (October 21, 2016).

Mr. Zakaria was married and had two children.  His case is related to illegal drugs crimes.

Arrest and detention

Mr. Zakaria was detained in Karaj Central Prison, Common Area #2, and was taken to solitary confinement on Monday, October 17, 2016.  However, the detailed circumstances of his arrest and detention are not known.

Trial

No information is available on Mr. Zakaria’s trial.

Charges

The charge brought against Mr. Zakaria was “transporting 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 Islamic Republic authorities have brought trumped-up charges against their political opponents and executed them for alleged drug trafficking, sexual, and other criminal offences. 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 provided against the defendant was “possession of one kilogram illegal drugs, crystal meth”.

Defense

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

Judgment

Mr. Sa’id Zakaria was sentenced to death by hanging.  He and another person were executed on Thursday October 20, 2016, in Karaj Central Prison.

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