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 Sareban

About

Nationality: Iran
Religion: Unknown
Civil Status: Unknown

Case

Date of Killing: July 15, 2010
Location of Killing: Orumieh, Azarbaijan-e Gharbi Province, Iran
Mode of Killing: Hanging
Charges: Drug trafficking

About this Case

News of the execution of Mr. Ali Sareban, along with four others, was published on the websites of HRANA on July 5 and 16, and Rojehlat on July 15, 2010.

Arrest and Detention

There is no specific information on the defendant’s arrest and detention.

Trial

No information is available on the defendant’s trial.

Charges

The charge against Mr. Ali Sareban and four others was collectively announced as "smuggling narcotics."

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. Scores of them were executed based on a 1989 law imposing mandatory death sentences on drug traffickers found in possession of specified amounts of proscribed narcotics (5 kg of hashish or opium, and more than 30 grams of heroin, codeine or methadone). The exact number of people convicted based on trumped-up charges is unknown.

Evidence of Guilt

The report of this execution did not provide any specific information on the evidence presented against the defendant.

Defence

No information is available on the defendant's defence.

Judgment

No specific information is available about the defendant’s execution. Mr. Ali Sareban was hanged at the Central Prison in Orumieh on July 15, 2010. According to the Rojehlat report, these five defendants had been sent to solitary confinement to be executed 15 days earlier. However, authorities postponed the execution when 2000 residents of Orumieh gathered and protested the ruling. According to HRANA on July 5, 2010, these five defendants were transferred to solitary confinement to be executed.

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