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

Qasem

About

Age: 24
Nationality: Iran
Religion: Presumed Muslim
Civil Status: Unknown

Case

Date of Killing: June 13, 2007
Location of Killing: Bandar Abbas, Hormozgan Province, Iran
Mode of Killing: Hanging
Charges: Drug trafficking

About this Case

News of the execution of Mr. Qasem, from Kohnuj, along with three others who were executed in two days, was published on the websites of the Fars news agency and the Tose’eh newspaper on June 16, 2007.      

Arrest and Detention

According to the media reports and record of his case, Mr. Qasem, along with another person, was transporting narcotics in a Peykan car on December 20, 2005, when the Faryab Station police officers suspected them. They did not obey the police order to stop and kept driving. However, they were arrested after an intensive clash with the police.  

Trial

This trial took place in the Revolutionary Court of Rudan.  No further information is available on Mr. Qasem’s trial.   

Charges

The charge against Mr. Qasem was announced as "armed transportation of 154 kilograms of opium."       

The validity of the criminal charges brought against Mr. Qasem 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 report of this execution did not provide any specific information on the evidence presented against Mr. Qasem.

Defense

No information is available on Mr. Qasem 's defense.    

Judgment

The court condemned Mr. Qasem to death and the confiscation of his belongings and the ruling was confirmed by the Supreme Court. Mr. Qasem was hanged in Bandar Abbas prison on June 13, 2007.  He was 24 years old.        

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