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

Shapur Aliqoli

About

Age: 25
Nationality: Iran
Religion: Islam
Civil Status: Married

Case

Date of Killing: April 7, 1984
Location of Killing: Evin Prison, Tehran, Tehran Province, Iran
Mode of Killing: Shooting
Charges: Unknown charge

About this Case

The information about Mr. Shapur Aliqoli was gathered from an interview with a family friend. Mr. Aliqoli was born in 1959 in Tehran. He was married and had a daughter. He was a sympathizer of the Mojahedin Khalq Organization (MKO).

Arrest and detention

Mr. Aliqoli was arrested in Tehran in 1981. Prior to his arrest, he was wounded in an operation of the MKO. The doctor who treated him, secretly allowed him to stay in her office. After Mr. Aliqoli decided to leave the doctor’s office, he was arrested and taken to Evin prison. The details of his detention are not known. In the beginning, the interrogators did not know his true identity or his political activities and he was set to be released. However, after some time, his identity was disclosed to the officials and – according to his former cellmates – he was severely tortured.

His family was unaware of his whereabouts. Only a few months before his execution in 1984, they were allowed to visit him in prison.

Trial

There is no information regarding this trial.

Charges

The charges brought against the defendant are not known.

Evidence of guilt

No information is available concerning the evidence presented against the accused.

Defense

No information is available concerning Mr. Aliqoli’s defense.

Judgment

Mr. Aliqoli was executed in Evin prison. The officials informed his family of the execution on April 14, 1984. According to the records of the registration office of the Behesht-e Zahra Cemetery, he was buried on April 7, 1984, and his family believes that he was executed the same day. Mr. Aliqoli’s will was returned to his family and is dated April 4, 1984.

Mr. Aliqoli was most likely executed by firing squad. This was the common execution method prior to 1988. He is buried in the section of the Behesht-e Zahra Cemetery where executed persons are interred. Family members of these persons are not allowed to place a gravestone on graves. There are no trees in this section. Families put cement on the graves, place the victims’ pictures, and write their names on the cement. A few times, Mr. Aliqoli’s family placed his picture on this grave. But every few years, state agents destroy demarcations of the graves.

Mr. Aliqoli’s mother has since passed away. Mothers of other executed persons have placed cement on his grave and written his name on it.

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