Mansour Dahmardeh, 22, a Baluch citizen with physical disabilities from Zahedan was arrested on October 3, 2022. Intelligence forces affiliated with the Revolutionary Guards-IRGC took him away at a traffic police’s checkpoint in Zahedan. He worked as a driver’s helper on the Zahedan-Bandar Abbas travel-bus line. Iran’s Judiciary sentenced him to death in a hasty process without an attorney.
Mansour Dahmardeh was born in 2000 and is single. He has a disability in his right hand and right leg.
Charges
Mansour Dahmardeh was charged with Moharebeh (War on God) and Corruption on Earth by the prosecutor of Branch 102 of Zahedan’s criminal court, Shams Abadi. The Revolutionary Court sentenced the Baluch defendant on January 3, 2023, for participating in nationwide protests including one of the deadliest in Zahedan on September 30, 2022. His death verdict was communicated to Mr. Dehmordeh in prison. According to an informed source, when his family went to the Revolutionary Court of Zahedan, Shams Abadi read out the charges of Moharebeh and Corruption on Earth and told the Dehmordeh family that Mansour’s death sentence would be carried out soon.
Court’s ruling
Mansour Dahmardeh was charged with Corruption on Earth on Tuesday, January 3, 2023, by Branch 102 of Zahedan’s Shahid Nouri Criminal Court, situated on Behdasht Boulevard and sentenced to death on Thursday, January 5, 2023. According to Haalvsh.org, “Mansour told the judge in court that he had only thrown three stones and set fire to a tire car. The judge replied that anyone who objects to Ali Khamenei’s rule would be sentenced to death.”
The court gave the defendant 20 days to make an appeal considering the verdict.
An informed source said, “Two lawyers with the identities of Hossein Barahui and Akbar Keikhah were considered for Mansour but they announced that Branch 102 of Zahedan’s criminal court does not accept lawyers.”
Mr. Dahmardeh was not allowed to appoint a lawyer and had not been provided with a suitable legal presentation. Iran’s Judiciary barred even a public defender to appear in court. A trial which sentenced the defendant to death without an attorney lacks legal legitimacy and its criminal regulation do not comply with international standards of prosecution.
Sentencing a citizen with physical disabilities to death for throwing three stones in self-defense against a barrage of bullets shot directly at protesters on September 30, 2022 is certainly unjust.
Aniko Glogowski, member of the 20th German Bundestag, who was assigned the political godparenthood of Mansour Dahmardeh tweeted to call for the Baluch’s execution to be stopped.
Detainee’s condition
According to Balochcampaign.us, Mansour Dahmardeh, the disabled Baluchi citizen was tortured at Zahedan’s Intelligence Department. He was, “Severely tortured with electric shocks and his teeth and nose smashed as a result of beatings.”
The source states that Mansour Dahmardeh was badly tortured at the Intelligence Detention Center for 10 days. He was taken to one of the Revolutionary Guards’ Intelligence Department after being charged with Moharebeh and Corruption on Earth. After several inquiries it became clear that the detainee had been hospitalized in a prison clinic for 12 days due to his deteriorated physical condition.
Mr. Dahmardeh is currently detained in Ward 9 of Zahedan Central Prison and has been denied contact and visitation with his family.
Following nationwide protests in Iran since September 2022, including cities of Sistan and Baluchestan Province, numerous citizens as well as juveniles have been arrested without reason and are deprived of any legal procedure. The fate of many remains a question.
On September 30, 2022, over 100 people were killed by Iran’s repressive forces in Sistan and Baluchestan Province. The people of have named it the Bloody Friday. The state’s crackdown on protesters continues.
The iranhumanrights.org has announced the killing of Baluchi protesters on September 30, and October 5, 2022, as the deadliest attack of the year.
