Appendix I: Geography of Khuzestan Province
Khuzestan Province:
Ahvaz
Prisons mentioned in this report:
Appendix II:
Judgments in the Case of Abdulamir Khanafereh, et al.
[Ahvaz Revolutionary Court Judgment in the case of Abdolamir Khonafereh, et al.
Translation:]
Verdict Number: 9109976123100666
Docket Number: 8809986300400626 “Follow not the lusts, lest you be misdirected.” [Emblem]
Branch Archive Number: 901210
Branch One of the Revolutionary Court of Ahvaz
Date: August 15, 2012
Attachment:
Islamic Republic of Iran
Ministry of Justice
Verdict
Docket number 8809986300400626, Ahvaz Ministry of Justice, Branch One of the Revolutionary Court, Court opinion number 9109976123100666
Complaining Party: The Esteemed Representative of the Prosecutor, Ministry of Justice, Ahvaz
Defendants:
- Abdolreza Amir Khonafareh, represented by Mr. Abdolsalam Saki, at Ahvaz, Kianpars, the corner of west 6th St., Ala Complex [redacted], the office of Mr. Saki, and Mr. Younes Navaseri located at Ahvaz, Naderi St., Bahar Complex, second floor, unit 5.
- Mr. Abdolamir Mojaddami, represented by Mr. Rasoul Zamani Foroushani, at Ahvaz, Taleqani St., corner of Nezami.
- Mr. Shahab Abbasi
- Mr. Ghazi Abbasi, represented by Mr. Younes Navaseri, located at Ahvaz, Naderi St., Bahar Complex, second floor, unit 5.
- Mr. Jasem Moqaddam Payam, represented by Mr. Ehsan Mo’azedi, located at Ahvaz, Kianpars, corner of east 5th St., Ashrafi law firm.
- Mr. Sami Jedmavinejad, represented by Mr. Aziz Bavi, located at Ahvaz, Camplo, Enqelab St., between Vali Asr and Arfa’, Abdolkhani shopping center, second floor.
- Mr. Hadi Albo Khanfarnejad, represented by Seyed Abdolreza Mar’ashi, located at Ahvaz, Taleqani St., Ferdosi St. towards Kaveh, No. 358, second floor.
Charges: Waging war on God and sowing corruption on Earth.
Court Opinion
Regarding the charges against Messrs. 1. Ghazi Abbasi, son of Ahmad, born in 1982, single, without a criminal record, represented by Mr. Younes Navaseri, 2.Abdolreza Amir Khonafareh, son of Younes, born in 1987, single, without a criminal record, represented by Messrs. Younes Navaseri and Abdolsalam Saki, 3. Jasem Moqaddam Payam, son of Saeed, born in 1985, without a criminal record, represented by Mr. Ehsan Mo’azedi, 4. Abdolamir Mojaddami, son of Houshang, born in 1980, married, without a criminal record, represented by Mr. Rasoul Zamani Foroushani, 5. Hadi Albo Khanfarnejad, son of Abdolkhezr, born in 1981, married, without a criminal record, represented by Mr. Seyed Abdolreza Mar’ashi, 6. Sami Jedmavinejad, son of Aziz, born in 1981, single, without a criminal record, represented by Mr. Aziz Bavi, 7. Shahab Abbasi, son of Ahmad, born in 1986, single, without a criminal record, represented by Mr. Younes Navaseri, all [have been charged with] waging war on God and sowing corruption on earth through using arms and shootings, [which have been committed] in order to instill terror and fear and to deny security to the public. According to the contents of their case files, individuals charged above formed a group nominally referred to as
Kataeb al-Ahrar [Warriors of Liberation], but, with separatist and ethnic motivations, they have engaged in numerous shootings. Eleven of these shootings were directed at police officers or police equipment and vehicles, which are symbols of security in society. The goal of these shootings, which on occasion have resulted in the murder of police officers, was solely to instill terror and fear and to deny security to the public.
…[Illegible] police officer (Behrouz Taqavi) near Mellat Bank along with Ghazi Abbasi, as described in page 281 of the case file, confessing and explaining the details of the shooting at Hodbeh police station in pages 283 and 286, the shooting at the 11th precinct police station at Shahrdari Rotary as stated in page 287, along with Ghazi Abbasi, and [shooting at] a police kiosk located at the last paved rotary in Shadegan, as stated in page 285, shooting at a police motorcycle next to Velayat Bridge as stated in page 291, explaining the details of the shooting at a police [Nissan] Patrol on Gidari road, along with Ghazi Abbasi and Jasem Moqaddam Payam, as stated in page 293, confessing and explaining the details of shooting at a police [Nissan] Patrol on Aboudi Road, along with Jasem Moqaddam Payam and Ghazi Abbasi, as stated in page 294 of the case file, confessing and explaining the details of the shooting at the police kiosk at the beginning of Khorousi Road as stated in page 296 of the case file, his confession regarding waging war on God at the prosecutor’s office as stated in page 302 of the case file, confession of the defendant no. 6 at the prosecutor’s office as stated in page 321 of the case file, Jasem Moqaddam Payam’s confession to membership in Kataeb al-Ahrar as explained in page 326 of the case file, his statements regarding the shooting as explained in page 328 of the case file, confessing to shooting at the police station’s two-cabin vehicle at Laleh Rotary (Bazar Rouz) in Shadegan as stated on page 325 of the case file, and the rest of his confessions and statements as stated in pages 336 to 339 of the case file, his confession to waging war on God at the prosecutor’s office as explained in page 345 of the case file, his statements indicating that a picture of a person sentenced to death and apparently executed for involvement in a bombing in Ahvaz was hanging in Ghazi Abbasi’s residence as stated in page 339 of the case file, Ghazi Abbasi’s confession to [involvement in a] shooting as explained in pages 372 and 373 of the case file, confessing in the prosecutor’s office as stated in page 279 of the case file, Shahab Abbasi’s confession to [involvement in a] shooting as explained in pages 397 and 398 of the case file, the list of discovered weapons and ammunition in the case file, the indictment no. 9010436300400 issued by the prosecutor’s office, Ghazi Abbasi’s confession to shooting and killing Behrouz Taqavi, and other evidence in the case file, all of which establish that the accused have committed the crimes with which they have been charged, and [given that] it is natural for them to deny the charges in this court; therefore, considering all of the above, [this court] finds all defendants guilty of the crimes with which they have been charged. Accordingly, based on Articles 105, 183, 190, 191 of the Islamic Penal Code, [the court] sentences defendants number one through four to the punishment specified in Article 190, paragraph 1, meaning death (execution) by hanging. [This court also sentences] defendants number five , six, and seven to the punishment specified in Article 190, paragraph 4, also taking into account Article 193 of the said Code, which is three years of imprisonment and exile in the city of Ardabil. Also, regarding the weapons and ammunitions discovered from the defendants, [This court] announces that they should be confiscated as instruments of crime and held for the government’s benefit. This verdict is issued at the presence of the defendants, and it is not final. This verdict may be appealed at the Supreme Court within twenty days after the date at which this verdict is issued.
Ali Farhadvand
Alternate Judge, Branch One of the Ahvaz Islamic Revolutionary Court
Copy is the same as original.
Address: Ahvaz—Kianpars – East Tohid St. – Next to the bridge – Ahvaz Islamic Revolutionary Court
[Supreme Court Judgment in the case of Abdolamir Khonafereh, et al. Translation:]
Verdict Number: [Illegible] [Emblem]
Docket Number: 8809986300400626 “Follow not the lusts, lest you be misdirected.”
Branch Archive Number: 910357 Branch Thirty-two of the Supreme Court
Islamic Republic of Iran
Ministry of Justice
Date: February 13, 2013
In the name of God
Appellant: 1. Mr. Abdolrazzaq Sharifipour, representing Jasem Moqaddam Payam, son of Saeed, and Abdolamir Mojaddami, son of Houshang. [2.] Mr. Younes Navaseri, representing Shahab Abbasi, son of Ahmad, and Abdolreza Mirkhonafereh (Ghazi Abbasi). 3. Abdolsalam Saki, representing Amir Khonafereh, and Rasoul Zamani Foroushani, representing Abdolamir Mojaddami.
Appellee: Verdict Number 100666-August 15, 2012, issued by Branch One of the Ahvaz Islamic Revolutionary Court.
Before Branch Thirty Two of the Supreme Court
Branch Panel [comprised of] Messrs. Reza Farajollahi (Chief Judge), Seyed Ali Asghar Latifi Rostami (Advisor), Seyed Mostafa Qa’em Maqami (Vice Member).
Case Summary: Messrs. 1. Ghazi Abbasi, son of Ahmad, born in 1982, 2. Abdolreza Amir Khonafereh, born in 1987, 3. Abdolamir Mojaddami, son of Houshang have been pursued by Ahvaz Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office for membership in a group that has a separatist and [Arab] ethno-centric agenda, and for armed attacks on police officers and police vehicles, which have led to murder of police officers.* Following 17 shootings directed at residential homes, police officers and their vehicles, including the February 26, 2009 shooting at the corner of Saderat Bank in Shadegan, during which a person named Behrouz Taqavi was shot and subsequently died as a result of his wounds, the Shadegan Police Department and the [Ministry of] Intelligence office initiated a widespread investigation. On June 21, 2009 security agents pursued the traces of separatist and [Arab] ethno-centric movements in the terrorist acts. On that day Jasem Pourmoqaddam was identified. A folding stock AK-47 assault weapon numbered 19021043, a magazine, and four bullets were discovered during the search of his home. During the investigation, he [Pourmoqaddam] stated that he had purchased the weapon from Foad Mojaddami. Later, he stated that he had borrowed it from Mojaddami. After test firings of the weapon discovered from the defendant, the police identity bureau compared the shells from the test firings to 18 shells discovered at the scene of the shooting and at the homes of Hamdan and Hashem Khashouni Aref and Hasan Khaziravi. Finding similarity between the shells, the police identity bureau decisively concluded that the discovered weapon was used at the shooting. The defendant denied belonging to separatist groups. Other defendants were arrested. On October 12, 2009, Hadi Albo Khanfarnejad admitted to shooting at the home of [illegible] along with Sami Jedmavi. Hadi Albo Khanfarnejad stated that he was carrying Sami’s weapon, and that Sami fired the weapon belonging to Jasem. Amir Khonafereh and Abdolamir Mojaddami denied the charges. However, during the investigation at the Ministry of Intelligence, Mojaddami stated that he had formed the group with Jasem Moqaddam, Abdolreza Amir Khonafereh, Ghazi Abbasi, Shahab Abbasi, Hadi Khonafereh, Sami Mojaddami, Abdollah Mojaddami and Foad Mojaddami. He said that [illegible] Amir Khonafereh, Ghazi Abbasi and Shahab Abbasi were the shooters, and that he had purchased an AK-47 with a stock from Shahab Abbasi for 350,000 tomans. Abdolamir Mojaddami stated that at sunset Abdolreza Amir Khonafereh and Ghazi Abbasi mounted a motorcycle and rode towards the market, meanwhile he [Abdolamir Mojaddami] and Jasem were at Jasem’s residence. An hour later Jasem’s phone received a call (the phone rang). He thought it was Ghazi. He [the person on the phone] told him to get over there, and said that a police officer has been killed. [He told him to] go home soon, and he rode his motorcycle and went home. On the next day he was worried about the building when Jasem, who had smoked crystal meth and was intoxicated, came to him and stated that Ghazi Abbasi, Abdolreza Amir Khonafereh and Hadi Khonafereh had killed an officer yesterday. Abdolamir Mojaddami stated that he, along with Jasem Moqaddam, had engaged in the shooting. He admitted to a number of shootings, but he denied shooting the police officer. He said that according to Jasem Moqaddam Payam, Abdolreza Amir Khonafereh and Ghazi Abbasi had fired at the direction of police officers. Abdolreza Amir Khonafereh has confessed to a number of shootings directed at the police and the public, and he has mentioned 17 such incidents. Abdolreza Amir Khonafereh stated that one day he and Jasem were sitting by a river, and that after New Year [13]87 [March 20, 2008] Ghazi called him and told him that he needed to speak with him. He left the motorcycle and went to see him. He said that he did not want Jasem to notice. He went home and returned with a weapon, and then they went towards the market. When they were on their way, he [Ghazi Abbasi] told him [Abdolreza Amir Khonafereh] that he did not want to shoot the police officer, and that he did not want Jasem to know. After passing the bridge, they entered an alley, went through the market, reached the main section of the market, and entered Khabbazi Alley, which is behind the bank. Ghazi got off the motorcycle and took a number of shots at the direction of the police officer. He then got on the motorcycle, and they rode away. It has been said that he admitted to shooting at the police container, as a result of which one police officer was killed. Ghazi Abbasi, Shahab Abbasi and Jasem Moqaddam participated in that operation. He has admitted to possessing two Ak-47s, which he had purchased from Ghazi Abbasi. Abdolreza Amir Khonafereh, son of Yousef, stated that he and Ghazi were together. Ghazi had called him, and he went by the river with him. Jasem was with him first and Ghazi joined them next. He [Ghazi] parked the motorcycle next to the river, and he went home to get the AK-47. He [Abdolreza Amir Khonafereh] and Ghazi got on the motorcycle and left (towards where?!), Ghazi has disembarked, shot and killed the police officer. Ghazi fired approximately five bullets. Sami Majdmavinejad [sic], son of Aziz, named the following as members of his group: Ghazi Abbasi, son of Ahmad, Shahab Abbasi, son of Ahmad, Jasem Pour, son of Saeed, Hadi Khonafereh, son of Abdolkhezr, and Amir Mojaddami, son of Alil. He stated that the group was named Ketabat al-Ahraz [sic]. Jasem Moqaddam Payam told the procurator at the Branch One of the Shadegan [Islamic Revolutionary Court] that he engaged in shooting along with other members [of the group] including Ghazi Abbasi, Shahab Abbasi, children of Ahmad and Abdolreza Khonafereh, Mir Mojaddam, Sami Jedmavinejad, Hadi Albo Khanfar and Abbaspour(How? How many? Where?). He quoted Abdolreza as saying that they murdered an officer next to the bank. (Ghazi and Abdolreza) have admitted to shooting at homes of individuals and police officers. Ghazi Abbasi initially denied the charge against him. But in the course of the investigation he said that he went to the stands around the rotary to buy cigarettes, and then he called Jasem and said that an officer is walking. Apparently Abbasi and Jasem recognized him. He was alone, and he was walking towards the police precinct. He admitted to shooting and killing the police officer, and he added that Abdolreza was operating the motorcycle. He also said that this police officer had had a relationship with Abbas, and that he had received a bribe from Abbas (the officer was named Behrouz Taqavi). By the request of the Shadegan Public and Islamic Revolutionary Prosecutor, the case was sent to the provincial capital. Following the approval of the head of the Ministry of Justice [provincial office], the case was sent to Branch One of the Province Appeals Court. He agreed with sending the case to the provincial capital (Ahvaz). At this stage Shahab Abbasi admitted to shooting at the police kiosk and killing the soldier serving in the police force. Hadi Albo Khanfar admitted to shooting at passing trucks along with Jasem Moqaddam Payam. He indicated that his motivation was drawing attention to neglect of the youth, their drug addition, corruption at the police precinct and overt acceptance of bribes. He stated that he liked Khuzestan to secede (from Iran), and that he, his friends and other groups had pledged [to commit to this cause]. Abdolamir Mojaddami stated that he has engaged in four shootings along with Jasem. He has admitted to membership in the group and shooting at the police officers and other individuals, but he stated that he was unaware of the murder of the police officer. Once when he was high, Jasem stated that Abdolreza and Ghazi have taken shots at the police and have killed two ranked officers. Abdolreza Amir Khonafereh, while admitting to possessing a weapon, denied involvement in the shooting and stated that his previous confessions were given under torture and physical abuse. Jasem Moqaddam Payam admitted to shooting at the public and the officers along with Abdolreza, Hadi and Ghazi. He has also admitted to the fatal shooting of the soldier with an AK-47. He has stated that he purchased the weapon from Abdolamir Khonafereh, and that he got involved in the shooting at the urging of Ghazi. Ghazi admitted to shooting at the public, but he denied shooting at police officers. He also denied membership in the Ketabat al-Ahraz [sic] group. But he admitted to carrying a weapon. Relatives of the victims, Behrouz Taqavi and Habib Jedhani, appeared at the investigative branch and requested qisas. The case has been sent to the Ahvaz Islamic Revolutionary Court, and the indictment includes charges of waging war on God and carrying an illegal weapon. A copy of the case file was sent to the Provincial Criminal Court for the murder charge. That court, however, requested to have the original case file. Therefore, the original case file was sent to the Provincial Criminal Court and the copy was sent to the Islamic Revolutionary Court. The court ordered the defendants to select and introduce their attorneys. Mr. Younes Navaseri stated that he was representing Ghazi Abbasi, Abdolreza Khonafereh, and Shahab Abbasi. Other defendants indicated that they were unable to select and introduce counsel. Four months after ordering temporary detention of the defendants, the court renewed the defendants’ temporary detention. The defendants appealed this decision. Branch 17 of the Khuzestan Appeals Court upheld the defendants’ temporary detention, despite the fact that according to Unification Decision No. 710 dated April 7, 2009 the Supreme Court General Board is to hear appeals from a public criminal court. The trial was convened with the presence of the defendants, their attorneys and the prosecutor’s representative. First, the prosecutor’s representative requested the punishment of the defendants. Then, Abdolamir Mojaddami, son of Houshang, defended against the charges brought against him. He stated that his confessions were made under special circumstances and psychological pressure. He stated that he has not engaged in any shooting and that he is not aware of the murder of police officers. His attorney stated that the defendant has denied his confession, no firearm has been discovered from him, and that he does not have a record. The defendant said that the statements on pages 230 and [illegible] are in his handwriting, but while at the intelligence office [the agents] held his hand when he was writing [to force him to write]. [According to him] this was the circumstances under which he wrote [his confessions]. At the end of the trial, considering the report from the police, the comprehensive and detailed report of the [Ministry of] Intelligence office at pages 381 to 385 and 471 to 524 of the case file, the medical examiner’s opinion regarding Officer Behrouz Taqavi’s cause of death at pages 23 to 35, Private Habib Jedhani’s cause of death in pages 448 and 449, the opinion of the weapons and ammunition expert , comparing the shells found at the scenes Mr. Taqavi’s murder and Corporal Asgari’s injury with the ammunition from the test firing of the AK-47, serial number 190210443, found at Jasem Moqaddam’s residence, his confession that this weapon belonged to him, the opinion of the identity bureau expert at pages 176 and 177, Ghazi Abbasi’s confession on page 402 stating that some of the weapons and ammunition discovered belonged to him, matching of at least one shooting with the said weapon, and the defendants’ explicit confessions, regarding shooting at officers and police equipment, including the details of each incident in relevant pages, the court found them guilty . In accordance with articles 105, 183, 190 and 191 of the Islamic Penal Code, the court sentenced defendants one through four (Ghazi Abbasi, Abdolreza Amir Khonafereh, Jasem Moqaddam Payam, and Abdolamir Mojaddami) to death by hanging. Shahab Abbasi was sentenced to three years of imprisonment in exile in Ardabil Prison. Messrs. Abdolrazaq Sharifipour, representing Abdolamir Mojaddami and Jasem Moqaddam Payam, Abdolsalam Saki, representing Amir Khonafereh, Rasoul Zamani Foroushani, the court-appointed attorney for Abdolamir Mojaddami, Younes Navaseri, representing Abdolreza Amir Khonafereh and Ghazi Abbasi, son of Ahmad, and Shahab Abbasi, appealed the decision in a brief dated September 16, 2012 on behalf of Ghazi Abbasi and Abdolreza Amir Khonafereh. In another brief dated September 19, 2012, they added Shahab Abbasi, who has been sentenced to three years of imprisonment in exile in Ardabil. Most of the attorneys’ defense arguments state that the defendants’ initial confessions and the evidence the court relied upon are not persuasive, and that the subject matter [of the case] does not conform to the referenced article [of the Islamic Penal Code]. The case was sent to the office of the Supreme Court and referred to this branch.
The branch panel convened on the day mentioned at the top [of the page]. After reading the report of Mr. Farajollahi, the member reporting, and reviewing the case file and the written opinion of Dr. Mohammadreza Elahimanesh, the assistant prosecutor of the Supreme Court, which, in summary, states that the case should be vacated and remanded to the trial court due to problems in the investigation, the panel consulted on the appellants’ appeal. The majority rules as follows:
Verdict of the Branch
No acceptable argument or reason that could invalidate the court’s findings was presented by the defendants’ defense attorneys. The evidence on which the verdict is based is still valid and adequate for forming judicial knowledge. The opinion of the court [below] is devoid of any deficiency regarding the application of the law and respecting due process principles. [This court hereby] announces the appeal as invalid, and upholds the verdict of the appellant. [The court] notes that considering Problem 8 in Detailed Rules Concerning Apostasy in Volume Two of Imam Khomeini’s Tahrir al-Vasilah, page 444, published by the Teachers’ Society [of the Qom Seminary], carrying out the qisas (the private right of the relatives) takes priority over the right of God, and it must be respected.
Chief Judge, Branch 32 of the Supreme Court: Reza Farajollahi
Advisor: Seyed Ali Asghar Latifi Rostami
*Punctuation added where appropriate for clarity. The original Persian version of the opinion is divided into only three sentences.
Its just Arab troll thread, nothing else.
Yes, a well sourced report from the
Iran Human Rights Documentation Center is "Arab propaganda". That's right moron. Did you also receive a personal dildo from Khomeini since you are crying despite this having nothing to do with you?
Oppresion of minorities, including the Arabs of Iran that live in the most rich and historical area of Iran, is well-known and well-documented by pretty much every human rights watch and source out there. They are neither Arab those sources or even written by Arabs. But nice try.