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

Elaheh Oruji

About

Age: 26
Nationality: Iran
Religion: Islam
Civil Status: Married

Case

Date of Killing: January 29, 1984
Location of Killing: Tehran, Tehran Province, Iran
Mode of Killing: Death in custody
Charges: Unknown charge

About this Case

Ms. Elaheh Oruji is one of the 12028 individuals listed in an addendum to the Mojahed magazine (No 261), published by Mojahedin Khalq Organization in 1985. The list includes individuals, affiliated with various opposition groups, who were executed or killed during clashes with the Islamic Republic security forces from June 1981 to the publication date of the magazine. Her name is also among the 282 individuals listed in a United Nations Report on The Situation of Human Right in the Islamic Republic of Iran (Note by the Secretary General), published on 13 November 1985. The report lists these individuals as “Persons who were allegedly summarily and arbitrarily executed in the Islamic Republic of Iran: 1984-1985.” Additional information has been drawn from electronic forms, sent to Omid by individuals close to her, including a former cellmate.

According to the electronic forms, Ms. Oruji studied medicine at the National University in Tehran. She and her husband were both sympathizers of the Mojahedin Khalq Organization. Her husband, Mr. Bahman Javadi Asl, was executed in 1982. Together they had two children. Her brother-in-law, Mr. Behnam Javadi Asl, was executed in 1981.

Arrest and detention

According to an electronic form, Ms. Oruji was arrested on North Amirabad street in Tehran, with an arrest warrant issued by the Revolutionary Prosecutor’s office. She was pregnant at the time of arrest. No further information is available about her pregnancy. During her 6 to 7 months of detention, she was kept in Evin prison and visitations with her family. According to her former cellmate from section 4 of Evin prison, when Ms. Oruji was taken to their section, marks of torture could be seen on her feet.

Trial

No information is available on the defendant’s trial.

Charges

The charges brought against Ms. Oruji are not known.

Evidence of guilt

According to an electronic form, Ms. Oruji’s husband’s affiliation with the Mojahedin Khalq Organization has been used as evidence against her.

Defense

No information is available on Ms. Oruji’s defense. She was denied the right to be represented by an attorney.

Judgment

The details of the verdict leading to this execution are not known. According to the electronic forms, the prison authorities called her family and claimed she had hanged herself in prison using her veil. According to the Mojahed magazine, she was executed by a firing squad on January 29, 1984.

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