Unknown

News of the execution of an unknown man, along with four others, was published in the Kayhan newspaper on July 16, 1997. Arrest and Detention The circumstances of this defendant’s arrest and detention are not known. Trial No information is available on the defendant’s trial which took place in the Revolutionary Court of Sarakhs. Charges The charge against this defendant was announced as "transporting a large amount of 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 does not contain information regarding the evidence provided against the defendant. Defense No information is available on the defense. Judgment The court condemned the defendant to death and, after the ruling was confirmed by the Supreme Court, he was executed in public in Sarakhs (Khorasan Razavi province). The Kayhan newspaper does not mention the exact date of the execution.