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

Javad Shahyar

About

Age: 24
Nationality: Iran
Religion: Non-Believer
Civil Status: Single

Case

Date of Killing: September 22, 1981
Location of Killing: Evin Prison, Tehran, Tehran Province, Iran
Mode of Killing: Shooting
Charges: Apostasy

About this Case

The information about Mr. Javad Shahyar is based on an interview with a person close to him. A short biography is published in the book Our Martyrs for Freedom and Socialism published by the Rah-e Kargar organization under the name Mahmud Shahyar. It is probable that he was known as Mahmud inside the Organization.

He was born in Tehran in 1957. He was an architecture student at National University and a sympathizer of the Revolutionary Workers Organization of Iran (Rah-e Kargar). According to the above mentioned book, prior to the “Cultural Revolution” he was active in leftist student groups, and after the universities were closed, he continued his political activism in some regions in the west of Tehran city.

“Rah-e Kargar” or the “Revolutionary Workers Organization of Iran” was established in the summer of 1979. The Organization was founded by individuals from various leftist groups who had rejected the idea of armed struggle and believed in political action. They introduced themselves as Marxist-Leninists, promoting a socialist revolution and the leadership of the proletariat. They differed with the pro-Soviet communist party, Tudeh, in that they opposed the Islamic Republic and Ayatollah Khomeini’s leadership.

The Cultural Revolution began after Ayatollah Khomeini gave a speech in March 1980 and ordered that universities be purged of all those who opposed his regime and be transformed into “learning environments” [as opposed to political forums] where “an all-Islamic curriculum” is taught. The first wave of violence began on April 15, 1980 during a speech by Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani [a member of the Council of the Islamic Revolution and Minister of Interior] at the University of Tabriz. Following the speech, students supporting the regime took control of the University’s central building and demanded that the “university be purged” from “pro-Shah elements and other sellouts.”

On April 18, the Council of the Islamic Revolution issued a communiqué accusing political groups of converting higher education institutions into “headquarters of discordant political activities” and naming them as obstacles to the radical transformation of the universities. The communiqué gave these groups three days (Saturday April 19 to Monday April 21) to shut down their activities in the universities. The Council stressed that the decision included libraries along with activities related to arts and sports. Political groups, which recruited members and had strong support in the universities, refused to evacuate.

Before the end of the Council’s deadline, serious clashes took place between leftist groups and Islamist Associations, in opposition to the Associations, sometimes supported by security forces and paramilitary groups. These clashes, which peaked at the end of the three-day deadline, resulted in the death of several people and the wounding of hundreds of others on university campuses around the country.

On April 21, the Islamic Republic authorities announced the victory of the Cultural Revolution and the closure of all universities in order to Islamicize the curricula. The universities remained closed for two years. One of the outcomes of the Cultural Revolution was the purging of many university professors and students based on their political beliefs.

Arrest and detention

The exact circumstances of Mr. Javad Shahyar’s arrest and detention are not known. According to the interviewee, he was arrested by the Revolutionary Guards, along with three other individuals, as they were sitting in a parked car in August, 1981. He was transferred to Evin prison. He had no visitation with his family. According to the interviewee, he was tortured in prison.

Trial

No information is available on his trial other than, according to the interviewee, the trial took place at Evin prison.

Charges

According to the interviewee, the charge against Mr. Javad Shahyar was announced as “apostasy”.

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

The report of this execution does not contain information regarding the evidence provided against the defendant.

Defense

No information is available about his defense other than he was denied the right to have an attorney.

Judgment

No specific information is available about the execution sentence. Mr. Javad Shahyar was executed by a firing squad on September 22, 1981.

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