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

Mojtaba S.

About

Nationality: Iran
Religion: Presumed Muslim
Civil Status: Unknown

Case

Date of Killing: December 11, 2003
Location of Killing: Gorgan, Mazandaran Province, Iran
Mode of Killing: Hanging
Charges: Rape

About this Case

News of the execution of Mr. Mojtaba S., along with three others, was published in the Jomhuri Eslami and Kayhan newspapers on December 13, 2003. His case and the cases of four others were related to the rape of a woman at her house in Gorgan on November 26, 2003. According to the Public Relations Office of the Golestan Security District, one of the five individuals in this group had escaped.

Arrest and detention

Mr. Mojtaba S. and three other defendants were arrested by police in Gorgan on November 27, 2003, following a complaint filed by a young couple. He was detained for 16 days (Jomhuri Eslami newspaper). The circumstances of his arrest and detention are not known.

Trial

Branch 21 of the General Court of Gorgan tried Mr. Mojtaba S. and three other defendants in the presence of a public defender. No information is available on his trial.

Charges

The charge brought against Mr. Mojtaba S. and three other defendants was announced as “rape.” According to the existing information, on November 26, 2003, five individuals climbed the wall of a house, home to a young couple. They forced their way in, threatening with a knife and an ax, tied hands and feet of the husband, and kept him in the kitchen. Then they raped the wife and escaped.   

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

The evidence presented against Mr. Mojtaba S. was a complaint by the young couple, his “confession,” and the confession of his collaborators. (Kayhan newspaper)

International human rights organizations have repeatedly condemned the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran for its systematic use of severe torture and solitary confinement to obtain confessions from detainees and have questioned the authenticity of confessions obtained under duress.

Defense

Mr. Mojtaba S. was drunk at the time of the committed crime. No information is available on his defense. However, in only 16 days since he was arrested, interrogated, tried, appealed, and ultimately executed. According to the Judicial Deputy of the Golestan Courthouse, defendants expressed regret and asked for forgiveness before being executed. (Kayhan newspaper) 

Judgment

Branch 21 of the General Court of Gorgan condemned Mr. Mojtaba S. to death, eight years imprisonment, and 124 lashes. Branch Two of the Appellate Court of Province and Branch 32 of the Supreme Court confirmed the ruling. He was hanged, along with three others, in public at the Shahid Bahonar Square in Gorgan on December 11, 2003. 

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