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

Esma'il Karami

About

Nationality: Iran
Religion: Islam (Shi'a)
Civil Status: Unknown

Case

Date of Killing: March 10, 1985
Location of Killing: Sari, Mazandaran Province, Iran
Mode of Killing: Unspecified execution method
Charges: Murder; Membership of anti-regime guerilla group; Possession of arms

About this Case

The execution of Mr. Esma’il Karami, along with 14 others, was announced in a communiqué by the Intelligence Office of Mazandaran. The communiqué was published in the Kayhan daily on March 11, 1985.

The communiqué is as follows:

“In the Name of God

Due to the favors of God and the wise advice of our respectful Imam about ending the Forest commotion, as well as the continuous efforts and sacrifices of the Islamic Revolution’s Revolutionary Guards, the hellish spidery organization of the hypocrites was destroyed in the verdant forests of Mazandaran. And all the partisans of estekbar (arrogance) were seized by the wrath of the avenging and omnipotent God. Away from their fugitive leaders, the traitors abroad, and their treacherous clamor, all the members were captured by the valiant men of Islam.”

This execution was also reported in an addendum to the Mojahed magazine (No 261), published by Mojahedin Khalq Organization in 1985. The list includes 12028 individuals, affiliated with various opposition groups, who were executed or killed during clashes with the Islamic Republic security forces from June 1981 to the publication date of the magazine.

Arrest and detention

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

Trial

No information is available on the defendant’s trial.

Charges

The communiqué does not specify the charges against Mr. Karami. All 14 defendants are collectively charged with: “membership in the hypocrites organization (term used for the Mujahedin-e Khalq Organization by the Islamic Republic authorities), martyring an unarmed shepherd who refused to collaborate with them with a knife and poniard - not shooting him in order not to waste a bullet-, martyring 6 members of Basij (Mobilization Forces) of Qaemshahr cruelly while they were asleep, as well as committing tens of crimes resulting in 21 martyrs and 23 wounded.”

Evidence of guilt

There is no evidence presented in the communiqué that specifically incriminates Mr. Karami. According to the communiqué all the defendants were implicated through both their confessions during the trial in front of the families of those killed, and weapons found during search and seizure by the revolutionary guards. The report explains: “upon searching the shelters of the defendants, the revolutionary guards found: “tens of war weapons, military grenades, cyanide, ‘se rahi’ (kind of explosive), walkie-talkies, and two military compasses, in addition to, many cartridges.” There is no mention of the specifics of these confessions.

Defense

No information is available on Mr. Karami’s defense.

Judgment

Mr. Karami was sentenced to death. There is no information about the tribunal which issued the death sentence. Having been confirmed by the Supreme Judicial Council, the sentence was carried out at dawn.

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