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

Abbas Tahamtani

About

Age: 20
Nationality: Iran
Religion: Non-Believer
Civil Status: Unknown

Case

Date of Killing: 1983
Location of Killing: Khoy, Azarbaijan-e Gharbi Province, Iran
Mode of Killing: Shooting
Charges: Unknown charge

About this Case

The information about Mr. Abbas Tahamtani is based on an electronic form sent to Omid by a person familiar with his case. According to the existing information, he was born in Khoy in 1962. He grew up in a middle-class family, had a high school diploma, and was a sympathizer of the Fadaiyan Khalq Minority Organization.

Mr. Abbas Tahamtani is one of the 12,028 individuals listed in an addendum to the Mojahed magazine (No. 261), published by the Mojahedin Khalq Organization in 1985. The list includes individuals affiliated with various opposition groups, who were executed or killed during clashes with Islamic Republic security forces from June 1981 to the publication date of the magazine. His name is also published by the Fadaiyan Khalq Minority Organization in its victims list, “In Memory of Unknown Fadai Victims.”

The Fadaiyan Khalq Organization, a Marxist-Leninist group inspired by the Cuban Revolution and the urban guerilla movements of Latin America, was founded in 1971 by two communist groups opposed to the Pahlavi regime. In 1981, the FKO, which had opted for open political and electoral activity after the revolution, split over the critique of the concept of urban guerilla warfare and the support of the Islamic Republic and of the Soviet Union. The Fadaiyan Khalq Minority opposed the Islamic Republic, and though it did not abandon the theory of armed struggle, its activities were mainly limited to the political arena and the labor movement. Following the Mojahedin Khalq Organization’s June 21st declaration of armed struggle, the Fadaiyan announced the organization of combatant cells. However, based on available information, these cells did not become operational. Many of the groups’ members and supporters were arrested and executed in the early 1980’s.

Arrest and detention

The circumstances of Abbas Tahamtani’s arrest and detention are not known. According to information sent to Omid, he was arrested by the Revolutionary Guards in Khoy in November of 1982. He was detained and interrogated at the Basij Center in Khoy. He was denied access to an attorney, and his family was unaware of where he was for some time. According to this report, he was interrogated for three months.      

Trial

No information is available on Mr. Tahamtani’s trial. According to the information sent to Omid, his trial took place in Orumieh in the spring of 1983. Quoting an eye witness, the trial session lasted only 15 to 20 minutes.  

Charges

According to the information sent to Omid, the charges against Mr. Tahamtani were announced in the indictment as “sympathizing with Aqalyatte [the Fadaiyan Khalq Minority Organization] and creating study groups.”   

The validity of the criminal charges brought against this defendant cannot be ascertained, given the absence of the basic guarantees of a fair trial.  

Evidence of guilt

The report of Mr. Tahamtani’s execution does not contain information regarding the evidence provided against him.

Defense

No information is available about Mr. Tahamtani’s defense. According to information sent to Omid (quoting a person being present at the court), Mr. Tahamtani defended his organization’s beliefs.    

Judgment

No specific information is available about Mr. Tahamtani’s execution. According to the existing information, he was executed by firing squad in the evening of his trial day, in 1983. The location of his execution, according to the electronic form, was Orumieh. However, other sources reported it as Khoy. The family received the body and buried it at the old cemetery of their town.  

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