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

Akbar Akbari

About

Age: 23
Nationality: Unknown
Religion: Unknown
Civil Status: Unknown

Case

Date of Killing: July 7, 2007
Location of Killing: Esfahan, Esfahan Province, Iran
Mode of Killing: Hanging
Charges: Rape

About this Case

News of the execution of Mr. Akbar Akbari was published on the websites of Fars News Agency on January 23, ISCA news on March 5, ISNA (Iranian Students News Agency) on July 2, 3, the Mardomsalari newspaper on July 2, the E’temad Melli newspaper on July 7, the Iran newspaper on July 8, and the Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office of Esfahan on July 2, 4, 7, 11, 2007.       

Arrest and Detention

According to the media reports, after eight women complained and reported being raped by an unknown man in an area under the jurisdiction of Police Station 23, the defendant’s arrest was ordered by the police in the greater Esfahan. They managed to arrest the defendant two weeks later when he was about to enter into the next victim’s house.    

Trial

No information is available on the defendant’s trial. This trial took place in Branch 16 of the Punitive Court of Esfahan.   

Charges

The charges against the defendant were announced as "forceful entries to houses and rape." According to the media reports, after the defendant identified lonely women, he would enter their homes and forcefully raped them.      

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. Each year Iranian authorities sentence to death hundreds of alleged common criminals, following judicial processes that fail to meet international standards. The exact number of people convicted based on trumped-up charges is unknown. 

Evidence of Guilt

The evidence provided against the defendant was his “confession” and being identified by the plaintiffs. According to the Judge of Branch 16 of the Appeal Court, “rapes were proven in two cases.”       

Defense

During the trial and in his defense, the defendant stated, “I watched pornographic  movies and became excited and then planned devilishly to enter women’s houses in order to rape them.” 

Judgment

The court condemned Mr. Akbar Akbari to death and the ruling was confirmed by Branch 27 of the Supreme Court. The execution date was postponed after a pardon request to the Pardon Commission. After the request was denied by the Pardon Commission of Esfahan, the defendant was hanged in the Central prison of Esfahan on July 7, 2007.   

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