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

Ya'qub Afrashteh

About

Age: 27
Nationality: Iran
Religion: Islam (Shi'a)
Civil Status: Married

Case

Date of Killing: September 13, 1979
Location of Killing: Zanjan, Zanjan Province, Iran
Mode of Killing: Shooting
Charges: Corruption on earth; Fighting against the revolution/blocking the path of God; Mass murder

About this Case

News of the execution of Lieutenant Ya’qub Afrashteh was reported by the correspondent of the Enqelab Eslami newspaper in Zanjan on September 13, 1979. Additional information is based on an electronic form sent to Omid by a person familiar with his case. According to this information, Mr. Ya’qub Afrashteh, son of Ja’far, was born in Tabriz in 1952. He was married with two children. He had graduated from Police College and worked at Zanjan police station. According to the electronic form, he had no political affiliation.      

Arrest and detention

The circumstances of Mr. Afrashteh’s arrest and detention are not known.

Trial

According to the newspaper report, the Islamic Revolutionary Tribunal of Zanjan tried Mr. Afrashteh on September 12, 1979 in the evening.

Charges

According to the Enqelab Eslami newspaper, Mr. Afrashteh was charged with “murder, assault and battery, and being part of a group that has shot at the defenseless revolutionaries of Zanjan.”

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

According to the newspaper report, the witnesses’ testimonies and the plaintiffs’ were heard.  No further details were provided.

Defense

The newspaper report mentioned that Mr. Afrashteh spoke in his own defense but provided no information regarding the statement.      

Judgment

The Islamic Revolutionary Tribunal of Zanjan issued its verdict at 11:30 p.m., declaring Lieutenant Afrashteh a “corruptor on earth” and an “enemy of God,” and condemned him to death. The ruling was carried out on September 13, 1979 at 1 a.m. According to the electronic form, he was executed in Zanjan. According to the newspaper report, the Public Prosecutor ordered the state to pay a sufficient salary to the family of Mr. Afrashteh. However, there is no information available regarding such payment.  

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