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

Ali Bigdeli

About

Nationality: Iran
Religion: Presumed Muslim
Civil Status: Unknown

Case

Date of Killing: February 18, 1985
Location of Killing: Qasr Prison, Tehran, Tehran Province, Iran
Mode of Killing: Hanging
Charges: Murder

About this Case

The execution of Mr. Ali Bigdeli was reported in the Kayhan daily on February 19, 1985.

Arrest and detention

The circumstances of this defendant’s arrest and detention are not known but the report mentions that Mr. Bigedeli spent 14 years in prison.

Trial

No information is available on the defendant’s trial but according to the report his trial started in 1970 under the supervision of the former regime’s court.

Charges

According to this report, Mr. Bigdeli was charged with first-degree murder.

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. Each year, Iranian authorities sentence to death hundreds of alleged common criminals, 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.

Defense

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

Judgment

According to the newspaper, “six of the victim’s next of kin (avengers of blood) decided to accept his blood money and forego the penalty of retribution (death). However the victim’s wife and daughter request the court to condemn him to capital punishment.” The court sentenced Mr. Bigdeli to death and the Supreme Judicial Council approved the verdict. Mr. Ali Bigdeli was hanged at Qasr prison on February 18, 1985 in the presence of some prison authorities.

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