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

Ruzbeh Shakerifard

About

Age: 22
Nationality: Iran
Religion: Non-Believer
Civil Status: Single

Case

Date of Killing: December 27, 1981
Location of Killing: Evin Prison, Tehran, Tehran Province, Iran
Mode of Killing: Unspecified execution method
Charges: Unknown charge

About this Case

The information about Mr. Ruzbeh Shakerifard, son of Mohammadali  is based on an electronic form sent to Omid by a person familiar with his case. According to this information, he was born in 1959 in the city of Mashhad.  He was single, a civil engineering student at Elm o San’at (“Science and Industry”) University, a supporter of the Vahdat Enghelabi (“Revolutionary Union”) Organization, and an idealistic young man.  His political activity consisted of selling leftist groups’ publications and participating in their demonstrations.

The Revolutionary Union Organization for the Liberation of the Working Class was established when several Marxist-Leninist groups who were against the Soviet Union and China, joined forces during the Union Conference in 1979. The official publication of this organization was a weekly called “The Revolution”. Only a few months later, the organization was divided into three factions over how to deal with the Islamic regime. After the suppression of opposition of the Islamic regime began in the summer of 1981, the activities of this organization were halted. Some members joined the Communist Combatants Union and ultimately the Communist Party of Iran. Some approached the National Resistance Council, and some other members got involved in cultural activities.

Arrest and detention

According to the information sent to the Boroumand Foundation, Mr. Ruzbeh Shakerifard was arrested on August 30, 1981 in Tehran. The details of his arrest and detention are not known.  He was supposed to go to Mashhad with his brother-in-law but did not come to the meeting place.  His family’s efforts to obtain information of his condition and whereabouts, including inquiring with Evin Prison, bore no fruit.  In early December, Mr. Ruzbeh Shakerifard contacted his family by telephone and informed them that he had been tried and was awaiting sentencing. 

Mr. Shakerifard was detained at Evin Prison and was not allowed visitations with his family.  He only had two phone conversations with his family.  The second time, on December 27, 1981, he was able to contact his sister-in-law’s (brother’s wife’s) family and say his goodbyes.

Trial

No information is available on the defendant’s trial.  According to information sent to the Boroumand Foundation, his trial took place at Evin Prison and he was not very hopeful afterwards.

Charges

No information is available on the defendant’s charges. 

The validity of the criminal charges brought against this defendant cannot be ascertained in the absence of the basic guarantees of a fair trial.

Evidence of guilt

The report of this execution does not contain information regarding the evidence provided against the defendant.

Defence

No information is available about the defendant’s defence.  

Judgment

According to the information sent to Omid, Mr. Ruzbeh Shakerifard was executed on December 27, 1981 at Evin Prison.  A few days later, the authorities informed his family of his execution, turned his belongings over to them and told them that he had been buried in Section 92 of Behesht e Zahra Cemetery.  When the family went to the gravesite, they witnessed the burial of corpses in bloody clothes in that same section. 

In 2011-12 when Ruzbeh’s mother passed away and the family decided to bury her alongside her son, the grave was opened and Mr. Ruzbeh Shakerifard’s brother realized that there was no sign of a bullet in his head.  Since a coup de grace is usually administered after being shot by a firing squad, it is therefore not known whether he was hanged or shot.  He left a will that he wrote while in prison, in which he bid farewell to his family.  

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