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

Akbar

About

Age: 43
Nationality: Iran
Religion: Presumed Muslim
Civil Status: Unknown

Case

Date of Killing: August 10, 2005
Location of Killing: Evin Prison, Tehran, Tehran Province, Iran
Mode of Killing: Hanging
Charges: Murder

About this Case

Mr. Akbar’s (last name unknown) execution was been announced in the Sharq and Iran newspapers on August 3, 2005, Hamshahri, and the website of Iran on August 11, 2005.

Arrest and detention

According to Sharq, a man complained to the police station of Feiz Park, number 140, that his belongings were stolen from his vehicle. The matter was communicated to the patrol police. The police were patrolling the area when a van attracted their suspicion. The police followed the van and ordered it to stop. The van parked next to an under-construction building and the defendant ran out of the van and entered the building. The officers surrounded the building. The fugitive shot towards them, causing the death of a police officer. Other officers entered the building, and arrested the man, who was wounded.

Trial

No information is available on the defendant’s trial other than after issuance of the verdict of Branch 1602 of Tehran Criminal Court, with the appeal of the defendant, the case was sent to Branch 4 of the Supreme Court (Sharq).

Charges

Mr. Akbar was charged with murder. Iran announced: “On February 3, 2002, [the defendant] shot a police officer with a hunting gun at midnight.”

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. The exact number of people convicted based on trumped-up charges is unknown.

Evidence of guilt

According to Hamshahri, the defendant confessed to the killing of a young police officer and added that the same day he intended to steal tires and he had already stolen some. During the investigation, it was disclosed that the defendant had a criminal record of several armed robberies, attacking the police, and had been arrested and imprisoned previously. The Iran newspaper mentioned that his gun was discovered at the time of arrest.

Defense

No information is available on the defense. According to Hamshahri, Mr. Akbar stated that he shot the officer who followed him only to scare the police away and he did not intend to kill the officer.

Judgment

Branch 1602 of Tehran’s Criminal Court condemned Mr. Akbar to death and 13 years imprisonment and the Supreme Court approved this ruling. Mr. Akbar was hanged in Evin prison on August 10, 2005.

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