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

Morteza Delavar Motlaq

About

Nationality: Iran
Religion: Presumed Muslim
Civil Status: Unknown

Case

Date of Killing: July 23, 1980
Location of Killing: Tehran Province, Iran
Mode of Killing: Unspecified execution method
Charges: Drug related offense

About this Case

The execution of Mr. Morteza Delavar Motlaq, son of Ali and a resident of Tehran, along with 9 other individuals was reported by the correspondent of Pars New Agency, quoting the religious judge of the Anti-Narcotic Islamic Revolutionary Tribunals. The Jomhuri Eslami newspaper published the report on July 24, 1980.

Arrest and detention

Based on the report, the defendant was arrested by the Tehran Police shortly prior to his execution.

Trial

No information is available on the defendant’s trial.

Charges

Mr. Delavar Motlaq was accused of “having drawn poor youth, from the south-east of Tehran and Khavaran Street, to drugs and prostitution.”

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

Based on the report, the defendant was caught in possession of 680 grams of heroin.

Defense

No information is available on the defense.

Judgment

The religious judge of the Anti-Narcotic Islamic Revolutionary Tribunal sentenced Mr. Morteza Delavar Motlaq to death. He was executed early in the morning on Wednesday July 23, 1980.

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