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

Rajabali Mohammad Salehi

About

Nationality: Iran
Religion: Presumed Muslim
Civil Status: Unknown

Case

Date of Killing: February 6, 1980
Location of Killing: Tehran, Tehran Province, Iran
Mode of Killing: Shooting
Charges: Sexual Offense

About this Case

The execution of Mr. Rajabali Mohammad Salehi was reported along with three others in the Ettela’at daily (February 7, 1980). According to the report, a fifth individual, Brigadier General Jamsheed Fathi Moqadam, former Commander of Artillery of the Infantry Division of the Guard, asked to perform a ceremonial washing right before the sentence was carried out. When, concerned about his long absence, the Revolutionary Guards went to the prison bathroom, they found that he had committed suicide by cutting his wrist with a sharp object. He was reported to have bled to death.

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’s authorities have brought trumped-up charges against their political opponents and executed them for drug trafficking, sexual, and other criminal offences. Each year, Iranian authorities sentence to death hundreds of alleged common criminals, following judicial processes that fail to meet international standards. The exact number of people convicted based on trumped-up charges is unknown.

Arrest and detention

The circumstances of this defendant’s arrest and detention are not known.

Trial

According to the report, Mr. Mohammad Salehi was tried at the Islamic Revolutionary Tribunal of the Center (Tehran) along with four others, three of whom were convicted of having served the SAVAK (former regime political police). No specific information about the circumstances of the trial is provided in the report.

Charges

The report indicated the defendant's charge to be “rape.”

Evidence of guilt

There is no information available on the evidence presented against the defendant.

Defense

The report provided no information about the accused’s defense.

Judgment

The Islamic Revolutionary Tribunal of the Center (Tehran) sentenced Mr. Mohammad Salehi to death. He was executed in the Evin prison at dawn.

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