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

Akhtar Salamat

About

Nationality: Iran
Religion: Presumed Muslim
Civil Status: Unknown

Case

Date of Killing: July 28, 1980
Location of Killing: Tehran, Tehran Province, Iran
Mode of Killing: Shooting
Charges: Drug related offense

About this Case

The execution of Ms. Akhtar Salamat was reported by the head of the Task Force for Combating Drugs and Narcotics in a conversation with the correspondent of Pars News Agency. The Jomhuri Eslami daily published the report (July 29, 1980).

Arrest and detention

No information is available on the circumstances of this defendant’s arrest and detentoion.

Trial

Based on the report, Ms. Salamat’s case was examined at the Special Islamic Revolutionary Tribunal for Combating Drugs and Narcotics. The tribunal held session at the night of the execution.

Charges

The head of the Task Force specified Ms. Salamat’s charges as follows: “establishing a corruption house and an opium den” and “selling drugs, resulting in the corruption of many young boys and girls.”

The validity of the criminal charges brought against these defendants 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.

Evidence of guilt

The report does not contain any information regarding the evidence presented against the defendant.

Defense

No information is available on the defendant’s defense.

Judgment

Ms. Salamat was sentenced to death. The sentence was carried out immediately, a couple of hours past midnight.

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