Reza Khademi’s Death Sentence: Tehran´s new tactic to create fear

(CHRR): After the [death sentence] decision of Iran’s Supreme Court, Reza Khademi’s case was sent to Tehran’s provincial appeals court.

After the June election, the Revolutionary Court sentenced Reza Khademi to death.

Reza Khademi was arrested a day after June 12th at his home. He was sentenced to death by branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court on the charge of Moharebeh (literally fighting against God-In Iranian law, a crime defined as taking arms against the Islamic Government, or being a member of a group with access to armed forms of resistance).
He is accused of being a member of the MKO (Mujahedin Khalg Organization). He was arrested in 2007 on his return from Iraq (where MKO camps are based). He was released, but arrested again right after the June election. After the death sentence was issued, his case was sent to branch 36 of Tehran’s provincial appeals court. Subsequently, the court claimed it did not have the jurisdiction over the case and named the Supreme Court as the qualified tribunal to deal with the appeal. But, the Supreme Court decided that it did not have the jurisdiction, and sent the case back to the appeals court.

The reasoning behind the Supreme Court’s decision is based on the policy of taking a unified and consistent approach to cases. According to this approach, the death sentence appeals issued by the Revolutionary Court should be heard in the provincial appeals courts rather than the Supreme Court.

Mr. Khademi’s case has been available to branch 31 of the Supreme Court for the past few weeks. Before, judicial officials would not allow access to the cases by the lawyers of the defendants. However, recently, branch 31 has agreed to permit Reza Khademi’s lawyer to study his case and examine the charges against him.

Translatio by: Siavosh J.