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

Shahram

About

Nationality: Iran
Religion: Presumed Muslim
Civil Status: Unknown

Case

Date of Killing: August 21, 2003
Location of Killing: Qezel Hesar Prison, Karaj, Alborz Province, Iran
Mode of Killing: Hanging
Charges: Drug trafficking

About this Case

News of the execution of Mr. Shahram, without his last name, along with two others, was published in the Iran newspaper on August 31, 2003. His case and the cases of two other defendants were related to drug trafficking.

Arrest and detention

Mr. Shahram and the other two defendants were identified and arrested by Narcotics Agents in Karaj, while attempting to transport narcotics from Zahedan to Tehran, in April of 2002. He was detained for 17 months. The circumstances of his arrest and detention are not known.

Trial

Branch Four of the Islamic Revolutionary Court in Karaj tried Mr. Shahram. No information is available on his trial.

Charges

The charge brought against Mr. Shahram and the two other defendants was collectively announced as “drug trafficking.”  

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 the Islamic Republic authorities have brought trumped-up charges, including drug trafficking, sexual, and other criminal offences, against their opponents (including political, civil society activists, as well as unionists and ethnic and religious minorities). 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 evidence presented against Mr. Shahram and the other two defendants was “recovery of four kilograms of heroin hidden in a tea flask when arrested, and possession of 16 kilograms of heroin.”

Defense

No information is available on Mr. Shahram’s defense.

Judgment

Branch Four of the Islamic Revolutionary Court in Karaj condemned Mr. Shahram to death and the Supreme Court confirmed the ruling. He was hanged, along with two others, at Qezelhesar Prison in Karaj on August 21, 2003. 

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