Zaniar Moradi
Hanged on
hanged on September 8, 2018 on charges of killing the son of Marivan's imam
Biography
Zaniar Moradi (1987 – September 8, 2018) was a Kurdish political prisoner from Marivan, Iran, who, along with his cousin Loghman Moradi, was detained in 2009. They were accused of being involved in the assassination of the son of Marivan's Imam, an accusation that they vehemently denied, claiming they were forced to confess under torture. Despite their claims of innocence and abuse, both men were executed on September 8, 2018.
Zaniar Moradi's case received significant international attention, with organizations such as Amnesty International condemning the Iranian authorities for their failure to provide legal counsel and for relying on coerced confessions during their trial. Both men were reportedly subjected to brutal torture, including sexual threats, in order to extract confessions. The judicial process was marked by a lack of evidence and an incomplete case, as noted by the presiding judge.
Moradi's family, particularly his father Eghbal Moradi, rejected the charges against him, stating that Zaniar was simply focused on his education. Tragically, Zaniar's father was killed in Iraq in July 2018, shortly before Zaniar’s execution, further adding to the family’s anguish.
International bodies, including UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet and Amnesty International, condemned the execution, calling for fair trials and highlighting the torture and unjust treatment that Zaniar and Loghman Moradi had endured. Despite widespread global condemnation, Zaniar and his cousin’s executions proceeded, sparking outrage from human rights groups around the world.
Early Life and Arrest: Zaniar Moradi was born in 1987 in Marivan, a Kurdish region in Iran. He was part of a Kurdish family with strong political ties to the region's opposition groups. In 2009, Zaniar was arrested along with his cousin Loghman Moradi. They were accused of being involved in the murder of the son of the Imam of Marivan's Friday prayers, a charge that both men consistently denied.
Torture and Forced Confessions: After their arrest, Zaniar and Loghman were held in detention for nine months under severe physical and psychological torture. Zaniar later wrote a letter to Asma Jahangir, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Iran, describing the torture and sexual threats they were subjected to in order to force them to confess to the crime. Despite the lack of evidence against them, their forced confessions were used as the primary basis for their conviction.
Legal and Judicial Process: The trial of Zaniar Moradi and his cousin was marred by a lack of fairness and due process. Their families were denied access to legal counsel, and the case against them was incomplete. The judge overseeing their case admitted that the evidence was insufficient, yet they were still sentenced to death.
Death of His Father: In July 2018, just before his execution, Zaniar's father, Eghbal Moradi, a Kurdish political activist, was killed in Iraq near the Panjavin River. Eghbal had rejected the charges against his son and nephew, maintaining that Zaniar was simply pursuing his education and had no involvement in political violence. His death added a further layer of tragedy to the already devastating situation.
Execution: Zaniar Moradi and Loghman Moradi were executed on September 8, 2018 by hanging. The execution sparked widespread international outrage, with human rights groups such as Amnesty International condemning the use of torture and forced confessions in their trial. The UN also condemned the executions, stating that they had been deprived of a fair trial and subjected to torture during their detention.
International Reactions: Amnesty International's Philip Luther expressed horror at the executions, calling on the Iranian authorities to stop using torture to extract confessions. Michelle Bachelet, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, also condemned the executions, emphasizing that both men had been denied fair trials and had been subjected to abusive treatment.
In conclusion, the death of Zaniar Moradi remains a tragic reminder of the widespread human rights violations in Iran, particularly against Kurdish activists and dissidents. His execution, along with that of his cousin, highlights the systematic use of torture and capital punishment in the Iranian legal system, which continues to draw international condemnation.
Pleas of Surviving Relatives and Family if any
The surviving relatives of Zaniar Moradi and Loghman Moradi made multiple pleas for justice, emphasizing their innocence and the unfair nature of the trial. The family members, particularly Zaniar's father, Eghbal Moradi, strongly denied the charges against the two men. Eghbal Moradi stated that his son was simply pursuing his education and had no involvement in the assassination. He also rejected the accusations made against his family by the Iranian authorities, stating that the men had been forced to confess under torture.
In addition, both Zaniar and Loghman wrote letters while incarcerated, detailing the physical and psychological abuse they suffered to obtain false confessions. They appealed to international human rights organizations and authorities to intervene, calling attention to their unfair trials and the lack of evidence against them.
Moreover, Zaniar Moradi and his cousin Loghman Moradi sent a letter to Asma Jahangir, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Iran, in which they described the torture and sexual threats they were subjected to in order to force confessions. Despite their pleas, the Iranian authorities proceeded with their execution on September 8, 2018, without any recourse to justice.
Sources & References
Philip Luther, Amnesty International’s Research and Advocacy Director for the Middle East and North Africa, strongly condemned the execution of Zaniar Moradi and the other two prisoners, stating, “We are appalled by the news that Iranian authorities proceeded with the execution of these men, despite widespread international condemnation of their death sentences and repeated calls from UN human rights experts and various organizations urging Iran to halt their executions.”1 en.wikipedia.org Open source