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

Abolqasem Qodsi

About

Nationality: Iran
Religion: Presumed Muslim
Civil Status: Married

Case

Date of Killing: February 26, 2001
Location of Killing: Gorgan, Mazandaran Province, Iran
Mode of Killing: Hanging
Charges: Murder

About this Case

News of the execution of Mr. Abolqasem Qodsi was published in the Iran newspaper on March 1, 2001. He was a physician residing in Gorgan. His case was related to the murder of three individuals in his villa at Alangdareh Park in Gorgan on July 30, 2000.

Arrest and detention

Mr. Qodsi was arrested by police inspectors a day after the incident on July 31, 2000. He was detained for seven months. The circumstances of his arrest and detention are not known.

Trial

Branch Two of the Public Court in Gorgan tried Mr. Qodsi. No information is available on his trial.

Charges

The charges brought against Mr. Qodsi were announced as “three counts murder.” According to the report, he had invited his wife, aged 18, his mother-in-law, 40, and his brother-in-law, 14, to his villa separately. Then he anesthetized them, and cut their wrist veins.  

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 evidence presented against Mr. Qodsi was his “confession.” During his primary interrogation, he claimed that his suspicion of his wife caused the incident; however, during the specialized police interrogation, he retracted his previous claim and stated that because of intense family disputes, he decided to take revenge.

International human rights organizations have repeatedly condemned the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran for its systematic use of severe torture and solitary confinement to obtain confessions from detainees and have questioned the authenticity of confessions obtained under duress.

Defense

Mr. Qodsi’s attorney objected to the harsh ruling and demanded that the Supreme Court investigate the case. No further information is available on his defense.

Judgment

Branch Two of the Public Court in Gorgan condemned Mr. Abolqasem Qodsi to death (three counts). Branch 32 of the Supreme Court confirmed the ruling. He was hanged by a crane in public at the 30-Meter Street near Emamzadeh Abdollah in Gorgan on February 26, 2001.  

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