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

Mehdi Sami'i

About

Age: 23
Nationality: Iran
Religion: Non-Believer
Civil Status: Unknown

Case

Date of Killing: August 14, 1981
Location of Killing: Evin Prison, Tehran, Tehran Province, Iran
Mode of Killing: Shooting
Charges: Counter revolutionary opinion and/or speech; Membership of anti-regime guerilla group

About this Case

The information about Mr. Mehdi Sami'i is taken from the book Our Martyrs for Freedom and Socialism by Rah-e Kargar Publications. He was born in Kangavar (in Kermanshah province), a graduate of the Tabriz Teacher’s College, and a teacher employed by the Ministry of Education. In 1980, he was dismissed from work due to his political activities. He then taught welding in Labor Ministry in Hamadan. He was first a sympathizer of the Fedaiyan Khalq Organization and then he joined the Revolutionary Workers Organization of Iran, Rah-e Kargar. After June 1981, he went underground.

"Rah-e Kargar" or the "Revolutionary Workers Organization of Iran" was established in the summer of 1979. The Organization was founded by individuals from various leftist groups who rejected the idea of armed struggle and believed in political action. They identified themselves as Marxist-Leninists, promoting a socialist revolution and the leadership of the proletariat. They differed with the pro-Soviet communist party, Tudeh, in that they opposed the Islamic Republic and Ayatollah Khomeini's leadership.

The demonstration of June 20, 1981, took place in protest against the parliament's impeachment of President Banisadr and the Islamic Republic's systematic policy of excluding the Mojahedin Khalq Organization (MKO) from politics, the refusal of Ayatollah Khomeini to meet with MKO leaders and his insistence to disarm them. Until that day, the MKO had supported the leadership of Ayatollah Khomeini and agreed to function within the framework of the new political system. On June 20, the Organization officially changed its policy and tried to overthrow the regime by organizing mass demonstrations all over the country. These demonstrations, which were severely suppressed and resulted in the killing of dozens of demonstrators, were followed by a wave of mass arrests and executions by the Revolutionary Guards and para-military forces that targeted all opposition groups. The massive repression, unprecedented in the history of the Islamic Republic, legitimized the months-old state harassment and suppression of dissidents and resulted in the banning of all forms of independent political dissent.

Arrest and detention

Mr. Mehdi Sami'i was arrested accidentally by the Revolutionary Guards on Karimkhanzad Street in Tehran in August, 1981, and transferred to Evin Prison.

Trial

No information is available on the defendant’s trial.

Charges

According to the above source, the state radio announced his execution and introduced him as "a leader of the Fedaiyan Khalq Organization (Minority) who had a role in the Kurdistan killings."

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 report of this execution contains no evidence provided against the defendant.

Defense

No information is available about his defence.

Judgment

No specific information is available about the death sentence. According to the above source, Mr. Mehdi Sami'i was executed by a firing squad at Evin Prison in September, 1981.

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