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

Nurollah Rakhshani

About

Nationality: Iran
Religion: Presumed Muslim

Case

Date of Killing: February 14, 1989
Location of Killing: Zahedan, Sistan Va Baluchestan Province, Iran
Mode of Killing: Hanging
Charges: Unspecified offense; Drug trafficking; Espionage; Participating in clashes with revolutionary guards and or Bassij brothers

About this Case

The execution of Mr. Nurollah Rakhshani, known as Nurak and son of Mohammad, along with 67 other individuals, was announced in the communiqué No. 5 of Iran Drug Control Headquarters, and published in the Jomhuri Eslami newspaper on February 15, 1989.

The communiqué cautions: “This is another warning to those who continue their criminal activities, thinking this plan will be discontinued after awhile. They dream of continuous import and distribution of narcotics among our people, benefiting only the international powers. However, they must know that this fight will continue until this corruption is uprooted by God’s will and power. Once again those who are involved in this business of death are warned to stop their actions against the Islamic nation and begin an honest life. Otherwise, the Islamic Revolutionary courts will act decisively to try and condemn them to death as corruptors on earth and the rulings will be carried out immediately without any compassion for these traders death. Also, all the public places, hotels, restaurants, and coffee shops are warned to avoid serving such people and, if they recognize anyone, they must report him to the security forces. Otherwise, they will be treated harshly according to the law.”

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 collective charges against Mr. Rakhshani and four other individuals were announced as “intensive activity in importing and distributing of narcotics, specifically more than 38 kilograms of heroin; participation in several armed conflicts with agents of the provincial committee that resulted in killing of three agents; participation in bombings in Zahedan and Zabol; continuous activity in smuggling weapons and ammunition in which a total of two RPG7’s along with 17 pieces of ammunition, 9 combat weapons, and 530 bullets were recovered; and spying and sabotaging activities against the Islamic Republic.”

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

Evidence of Guilt

The report of this execution does not contain information regarding the evidence provided against the defendant other than what was stated in the Announcement against 68 defendants: “These merchants of death collectively distributed 13 tons of opium, 315 kilograms of heroin, 92 kilograms of hashish and 10 kilograms of morphine. Also, a total of two RPG7’s with 17 ammunition, 34 combat weapons, and 530 bullets were recovered from them.”

Defense

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

Judgment

The Islamic Revolutionary court of Zahedan condemned Mr. Nurollah Rakhshani to death as a corruptor on earth. He was hanged in public on February 14, 1989.

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