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

Shamsoddin Monafi

About

Nationality: Iran
Religion: Presumed Muslim
Civil Status: Unknown

Case

Date of Killing: March 1, 1989
Location of Killing: Tabriz, Azarbaijan-e Sharqi Province, Iran
Mode of Killing: Hanging
Charges: Drug trafficking

About this Case

The execution of Mr. Shamsoddin Monafi, son of Ebrahim, along with 49 other individuals who were executed in 15 different cities on one day for drug trafficking, was announced in the communiqué of the Center for Combating Narcotics and published in the Jomhuri Eslami newspaper on March 2, 1989.

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 other than it took place in the Revolutionary Court of Tabriz.

Charges

The collective charges against Mr. Monafi and two other individuals, were announced as “establishing a gang for dealing and distribution of narcotics, possession of more than seven kilograms of heroin.”

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 Islamic Republic authorities have brought trumped-up charges against their political opponents and executed them for alleged 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. Scores of them were executed based on a 1989 law, imposing mandatory death sentences on drug traffickers found in possession of specified amounts of proscribed narcotics (5 kg of hashish or opium, and more than 30 grams of heroin, codeine, methadone, or morphine). The exact number of people convicted based on trumped-up charges is unknown.

Evidence of Guilt

The newspaper reported that these defendants had “a previous criminal record for possession and distribution of heroin.” Without mentioning any name, the announcement referred to a previous conviction of one defendant, who was condemned to life imprisonment, but pardoned.

Defense

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

Judgment

The court condemned Mr. Shamsoddin Monafi to death and he was hanged in Tabriz on March 1, 1989.

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