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

Mirza Mohammad Qasemi

About

Nationality: Iran
Religion: Presumed Muslim
Civil Status: Unknown

Case

Date of Killing: August 6, 1980
Location of Killing: Karaj, Tehran Province, Iran
Mode of Killing: Shooting
Charges: Drug trafficking

About this Case

The execution of Mr. Mirza Mohammad Qasemi and two others was reported in the Jomhuri Eslami daily (August 7, 1980).

Arrest and detention

No information is available on the circumstances of Mr. Qasemi’s arrest and detention.

Trial

The verdict was issued by the Special Islamic Revolutionary Court for Campaign against Drugs and Narcotics. This report does not provide any specific information about the trial.

Charges

Based on this report, Mr. Qasemi, born in Malayer and resident of Karaj, was charged with “selling, buying, and distributing drugs.”

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. Thousands of alleged drug traffickers have been sentenced to death 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 provide any specific information on the evidence presented against the defendant.

Defense

No information on the accuseds’ defense is available.

Judgment

The report indicated that Mr. Qasemi had previously been sentenced to life imprisonment. However, this time the Special Islamic Revolutionary Court for Campaign against Drugs and Narcotics sentenced him to death for “corruption on earth” and “waging war against God”, and he was executed at 7:30 a.m. by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards (Pasdaran).

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