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

Sa'adat Shah Karamzehi (Rigi)

About

Nationality: Afghanistan
Religion: Presumed Muslim
Civil Status: Unknown

Case

Date of Killing: August 17, 2015
Location of Killing: Minab, Hormozgan Province, Iran
Mode of Killing: Hanging
Charges: Drug trafficking

About this Case

News of the execution of Mr. Sa’adat Shah Karamzahi (Rigi), along with nine others not named, was published on the website of the Hormozgan General Courthouse, quoting the Public Relations Office of the Hormozgan General Courthouse, and on the website of HRANA (Human Rights Activists News Agency) with full names on August 17, 2015.  

Arrest and detention

Mr. Shah Karamzahi (Rigi) was detained in Minab Prison. The circumstances of his arrest and detention are not known.

Trial

According to the website of the Hormozgan General Courthouse, the Islamic Revolutionary Court of Minab tried Mr. Shah Karamzahi (Rigi). However, no information is available on his trial.

Charges

According to the Public Relations Office of the Hormozgan General Courthouse, the charge brought against Mr. Shah Karamzahi (Rigi) was announced as “drug trafficking.”   

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 the Islamic Republic authorities have brought trumped-up charges, including drug trafficking, sexual, and other criminal offences, against their opponents (including political, civil society activists, as well as unionists and ethnic and religious minorities). 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. Shah Karamzahi (Rigi). However, according to the Public Relations Office of the Hormozgan General Courthouse, these ten executed drug traffickers in Minab and Bandar-e Abbas had been charged with possession, transportation, and selling over 398 kilograms of narcotics including 70 kilograms of heroin, 200 kilograms of opium, 105 kilograms of crack, 4 kilograms of hashish, and 19 grams of morphine across the Hormozgan Province and the neighboring provinces.

Defense

No information is available on Mr. Shah Karamzahi (Rigi)’s defense.

Judgment

The Islamic Revolutionary Court of Minab condemned Mr. Sa’adat Shah Karamzahi (Rigi) to death. After the General Public Prosecutor confirmed the ruling, it was carried out on Monday August 17, 2015 and Mr. Shah Karamzahi (Rigi) was hanged, along with three others, at the Minab Central Prison yard in the morning. 

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