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

Majid Heidarkhani

About

Age: 39
Nationality: Iran
Religion: Islam (Shi'a)
Civil Status: Married

Case

Date of Killing: May 6, 2012
Location of Killing: Evin Prison, Tehran, Tehran Province, Iran
Mode of Killing: Hanging
Charges: Drug trafficking
Age at time of alleged offense: 38

About this Case

News and information regarding the execution of Mr. Majid Heidarkhani, son of Mahmud, was sent to Abdorrahman Boroumand Center via an electronic form by a person who knew him on January 20, 2019. (ABC e-form) The report of Mr. Heidarkhani’s execution along with eight others was also announced by the website of the Criminal Court of Tehran and the website of the Criminal and Revolutionary Court of Tehran (May 6, 2012), Mehr News Agency (May 7, 2012), Kayhan daily (May 8, 2012), and Fars News (May 11, 2012).

Mr. Heidarkhani was born in Tasuj, a city in Kovar vounty in Fars Province. He was married, had a child and had high school diploma. His case as well as those of six others concern drug trafficking. 

Arrest and Detention

Mr. Heidarkhani was arrested in 2011 in Tehran (ABC e-form). According to Mehr News Agency, Mr. Heidarkhani was arrested consequent to the arrest of a number of drug dealers. However, there is no information available on the details of his arrest and detention. 

Trial

Mr. Heidarkhani was tried by the Revolutionary Court of Tehran. However, there is no information available on the session or sessions of his trial. 

Charges

Mr. Heidarkhani and six others were charged with trafficking methamphetamine. According to the report by the website of the Criminal and Revolutionary Court of Tehran, the cargo of methamphetamine which the traffickers had shaped in the form of pieces of stone and was on its way to Southeast Asian countries was confiscated by the authorities in the customs office of Shaheed Raja’ee in Bandar Abbas.

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

“Discovery of 500 kilograms of methamphetamine” was entered as evidence against Mr. Heidarkhani and six others. 

Defense

After the trial, Mr. Heidarkhani asked for pardon, but his appeal was rejected. He had a defense lawyer, but there is no information available of the details of his defense. 

Judgment

The Revolutionary Court of Tehran sentenced Mr. Heidarkhani to death. He was hanged in a prison in Tehran along with eight others on May 6, 2012. His belongings were confiscated by the decree of the court.

Mr. Heidarkhani’s body is buried in section 202 of Behesht-e Zahra cemetery in Tehran (ABC e-form).

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