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

Ali Mazidi

About

Age: 40
Nationality: Iran
Religion: Presumed Muslim
Civil Status: Unknown

Case

Date of Killing: August 21, 2002
Location of Killing: Qasr Prison, Tehran, Tehran Province, Iran
Mode of Killing: Hanging
Charges: Murder

About this Case

News of the execution of Mr. Ali Mazidi, along with two others, was published in the Iran newspaper on August 22, 2002. Additional information regarding his arrest and prosecution was taken from the Ettela’at newspaper on July 23, August 24, and November 29, 2000, and the Iran newspaper on March 6, 2002.

According to the existing information, Mr. Mazidi had a PhD in economics from Moscow University and was a parliament candidate for the Sixth Majles. However, after his defeat in the election, he found himself in debt.        

Arrest and Detention

Agents of Circle 10 of the Intelligence Police arrested Mr. Mazidi at his house when he was sleeping on July 29, 2000. By the order of the Head of Police of Greater Tehran and the Deputy of Crime Recovery of this district, a team of detectives of this Circle was appointed in charge of the investigation and arrest in this case. Mr. Mazidi was detained for about one year.  

Trial

According to the existing information, Branch 1601 of the Criminal Court of Tehran tried Mr. Mazidi and the first court session took place on August 23, 2000. No information is available on his trial. 

Charges

The charges against Mr. Mazidi were announced as "murdering a person and assisting in murdering another person." He was charged with murdering a surgeon and a pharmacist for extortion in July of 2001 in collaboration with another person.         

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. Mazidi was his “confession” and the confession of his collaborator. Also, during the search of his house, officials recovered “two weapons, branded Browning and Berta, forged documents, a handcuff, and a chain.” (Ettela’at 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

In his defense, Mr. Mazidi objected to the ruling and stated “I am guilty [of a crime] but not a murderer.”    

Judgment

The Criminal Court of Tehran condemned Mr. Ali Mazidi to death, 17 years imprisonment, and 75 lashes. The Supreme Court confirmed the ruling. He was hanged in the presence of the victim’s family, officials of Sentence Enforcement of the Criminal Court of Tehran, and the observer judge in Qasr Prison on August 21, 2002. No information is available about the lash ruling.   

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