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

Qodrat Fazeli

About

Age: 35
Nationality: Iran
Religion: Non-Believer
Civil Status: Married

Case

Date of Killing: January, 1983
Location of Killing: Tehran, Tehran Province, Iran
Mode of Killing: Fatal
Charges: Unknown charge

About this Case

The information about Mr. Qodrat Fazeli was taken from the Tufan Party website and a person close to him has confirmed the information. Mr. Fazeli was born in 1948 in Mahmudabad in the Mazandaran Province. He was married and he had a child who was born in prison. He graduated from the Iran University of Science and Technology with a degree in mechanical engineering. He is remembered for his smile and his trustworthiness.

Mr. Fazeli was one of the leaders of the Tufan Party. He began his political activism before the Revolution. After graduating from university, he went to a remote and impoverished place, in the Sistan and Baluchestan Provinces, and lived in villages near Zahedan for some time. In 1973, he became familiar with the Tufan Party and joined the Party’s Research Team within the Planning Committee, which conducted field work in villages. The Party later published findings of this research project in 1978, entitled, “An Introduction to Society and Class Relations.”

Due to his political activism, Mr. Fazeli was arrested by the SAVAK (the National Intelligence and Security Organization), but he was released because there was no evidence against him. After his release, he was under SAVAK’s surveillance, and therefore could not continue his political activities in Zahedan. He decided to return to Mazandaran, where he resumed his activities with the Tufan Party. He founded a base for the Party in the Province and established an underground publishing house. He was in charge of the publication of the Tufan magazine until the Revolution.

In 1980, Hezbollahi agents equipped with clubs raided his father’s house in Mahmudabad, but he was not there. After some time, the Revolutionary Guards ambushed his house, but Mr. Fazeli had already escaped. Since then, he led an underground life in Tehran. In April 1981, he was elected as a member of the central committee of the Tufan Party.

Mr. Fazeli’s younger brother, Daryush Fazeli, and his brother-in-law, Janbarar Ruhi were also executed, in 1982 and 1981 respectively.

Hezb-e Kar (the Labor Party, or Tufan) was founded as a result of a split from the Tudeh Party of Iran (Dec. 10, 1963). The Iran Labor Party calls itself Marxist-Leninist and communist. The Party believes that after the death of Stalin, who had established the dictatorship of the proletariat in its true sense, the Soviet Union became a social imperialist country. The Party supports the overthrow of the Islamic Republic and the establishment of a proletarian dictatorship. Its activities are mainly concentrated outside Iran. The Iran Labor Party is a member of the International Conference of Marxist-Leninist Parties and Organizations, and it publishes the magazine Tufan.

Arrest and detention

Mr. Fazeli was arrested in December 1982 in Tehran along with his pregnant wife. They were both taken to the infamous Joint Committee. According to the statements of other prisoners who were kept at the Joint Committee at the same time, Mr. Fazeli was severely tortured; and even his pregnant wife was tortured in front of him. Prison authorities did not give him food and he lost weight. His wife gave birth in prison. Throughout the interrogation period, Mr. Fazeli was deprived of the right to have visitors.

The Joint Committee was established during the Monarchy and called the Joint Anti-Sabotage Committee. After the Revolution, it was renamed Tohidi Prison and then Ward 3000. Most of its cells were for solitary confinement where prisoners were interrogated and tortured. In the 1990s, the prison became the Ebrat Museum.

Trial

No information is available on Mr. Fazeli’s trial.

Charges

The charge brought against Mr. Fazeli is not known.

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. Fazeli’s defense. He was denied the right to have an attorney.

Judgment

According to a former cellmate, in January 1983, Mr. Qodrat Fazeli was taken for interrogation one day and he never returned. This cellmate states, “He probably died under torture.” Mr. Fazeli is buried in Khavaran Cemetery.

Correct/ Complete This Entry