Seyed Ahmad Zargar

Full Name (English)

Seyed Ahmad Zargar

Full Name (Farsi)

سید احمد زرگر

Place of Birth

Unknown

Gender

Male

Education

Seminary Eduacation

Clerical Background

Yes

Status

Died, 12 Sep 2021

Last Updated

13 Sep 2021

Positions and Violations

Anti-Drug Prosecutor (1980 - 1991)
Head of Branch 36 of the Court of Appeal, Tehran Province (2009 - Nov 2020)
- Human Rights Violation: Upholding the death sentences of protesters and dissidents (2009 - Nov 2020) read more
  
  Institution
  
  Courts of Appeal
  
  Location
  
  (Tehran Province)
  
  Rights Violated
  
  Right to a fair trial, Right to freedom of assembly, Right to life
  
  Description
  
  Ahmad Zargar, as the head of Branch 36 of the Tehran Court of Appeals, has been responsible for approving the death sentences for political opponents as well as protesters against the results of the 2009 presidential election. In September 2016, Ahmad Zargar upheld the sentence of Abdolreza Ghanbari, a teacher who had been arrested during a street rally on December 26, 2009 (Ashura) and was sentenced to death by Judge Salavati on the baseless charges of Moharebeh (armed struggle).
  
  Ahmad Zargar also upheld the death sentence of Jafar Kazemi, one of the detainees protesting the results of the 2009 presidential election on charges of moharebeh (armed struggle) through the support of the Mojahedin-e-Khalq Organisation (MEKO). "Unfortunately, neither the trial court nor the appeal even considered our defence" said Nasim Ghanavi, Kazemi’s lawyer, regarding the defence presented in the court. Kazemi was executed on February 25, 2011.
  
  Sources
  
  Mohammad Moghiseh and Ahmad Zargar; The record of 'execution judges' in the Revolutionary Court of Tehran
  
  https://www.bbc.com/persian/iran-features-54909182
  
  Nasim Ghanavi, lawyer for Jafar Kazemi, prisoner accused of armed struggle: I have not yet been informed of the death sentence- Iran Human Rights Campaign, December 10, 2010
  
  https://justice4iran.org/persian/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/%D9%86%D8%B3%DB%8C%D9%85-%D8%BA%D9%86%D9%88%DB%8C-%D9%88%DA%A9%DB%8C%D9%84-%D8%AC%D8%B9%D9%81%D8%B1-%DA%A9%D8%A7%D8%B8%D9%85%DB%8C%D8%8C-%D8%B2%D9%86%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%86%DB%8C-%D9%85%D8%AA%D9%87%D9%85-%D8%A8%D9%87-%D9%85%D8%AD%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%A8%D9%87_-%D9%87%D9%86%D9%88%D8%B2-%D9%87%DB%8C%DA%86-%D8%AD%DA%A9%D9%85-%D8%A7%D8%B9%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%85%DB%8C-%D8%A8%D9%87-%D9%85%D9%86-%D8%A7%D8%A8%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%BA-%D9%86%D8%B4%D8%AF%D9%87-%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA-%E2%80%93-%DA%A9%D9%85%D9%BE%DB%8C%D9%86-%D8%AD%D9%82%D9%88%D9%82-%D8%A8%D8%B4%D8%B1-%D8%AF%D8%B1-%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86.pdf
  
  Two political prisoners and four sex related prisomers executed in Iran, BBC Farsi, February 25, 2011
  
  https://www.bbc.com/persian/iran/2011/01/110124_l03_execution_mko
  
  Abdolreza Ghanbari on the verge of execution: "Amnesty plea has been rejected, his family is worried day and night about the execution of the death sentence" - Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, March 13, 2012
  
  https://justice4iran.org/persian/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/%D8%B9%D8%A8%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B1%D8%B6%D8%A7-%D9%82%D9%86%D8%A8%D8%B1%DB%8C-%D8%AF%D8%B1-%D8%A2%D8%B3%D8%AA%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%87-%D8%A7%D8%B9%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%85_-%C2%AB%D8%AF%D8%B1%D8%AE%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA-%D8%B9%D9%81%D9%88-%D8%B1%D8%AF-%D8%B4%D8%AF%D9%87-%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA%D8%8C-%D8%AE%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%AF%D9%87-%D8%A7%D8%B4-%D8%B4%D8%A8-%D9%88-%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%B2-%D9%86%DA%AF%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A7%D8%AC%D8%B1%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D8%AD%DA%A9%D9%85-%D9%87%D8%B3%D8%AA%D9%86%D8%AF%C2%BB-%E2%80%93-%DA%A9%D9%85%D9%BE%DB%8C%D9%86-%D8%AD%D9%82%D9%88%D9%82-%D8%A8%D8%B4%D8%B1-%D8%AF%D8%B1-%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86.pdf
- Human Rights Violation: Upholding prison sentences for activists and journalists (at least 2009-November 2020) read more
  
  Institution
  
  Courts of Appeal
  
  Location
  
  (Tehran Province)
  
  Rights Violated
  
  Right to a fair trial, Right to freedom of assembly, Right to freedom of expression
  
  Description
  
  As a judge of Branch 36 of the Tehran Court of Appeals, Seyyed Ahmad Zargar is responsible for approving death sentences for protesters against the results of the 2009 elections and issuing long-term prison sentences for journalists, political and civil activists.
  
  Journalist Ahmad Asgari was sentenced by Judge Moghiseh to five years in prison on charges of propaganda against the regime, association and collusion against national security and disturbing public order, which was upheld by Branch 36 of the Court of Appeals presided over by Judge Zargar.
  
  Maryam Alangi, the wife of Mohsen Dokmehchi, a political prisoner who had died of an illness, was sentenced to three years in prison by Branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran, presided over by Judge Salavati. The sentence was upheld by Branch 36 of the Court of Appeals presided over by Judge Zargar.
  
  Behfar Lalehzari, an Iranian lawyer and judicial researcher, was sentenced to seven years in prison by Judge Moghiseh. The sentence was upheld by Branch 36 of the Court of Appeals headed by Judge Zargar.
  
  Mohammad Mozaffari, a civil activist, was sentenced to 2 years in prison, 74 lashes and a fine of 20 million Rials for "propaganda against the regime". On June 1, 2016, the sentence was upheld by Branch 36 of the Court of Appeals presided over by Judge Zargar.
  
  In July 2009, Ahmad Zargar upheld the sentence of three years and six months in prison for Leila Hosseinzadeh, a student activist.
  
  In August 2016, branch 36 of the Tehran Court of Appeals, presided over by judge Zargar upheld the sentence of 11 years in prison for Roozbeh Meshkin Khat, a political activist and journalist.
  
  In August 2016, Seyed Ahmad Zargar, head of Branch 36 of the Tehran Court of Appeals, upheld the sentence of six years in prison for the political activist and journalist Hamed Aynehvand.
  
  In August 2009, Zargar upheld the sentence of six years in prison for Farhad Meysamy, a civil activist.
  
  In September 2009, Branch 36 of the Tehran Court of Appeals, presided over by Ahmad Zargar, upheld a six-year prison sentence for Behnam Ebrahimzadeh, a labor activist.
  
  In September 2009, branch 36 of the Court of Appeal upheld the was sentence of one year and six months in prison for Fereshteh Tusi, a student activist,
  
  In September 2009, Ahmad Zargar upheld a seven-year prison sentence and 74 lashes for student activist Parisa Rafiei.
  
  Sources
  
  Mohsen Dokmehchi's wife sentenced to three years in prison in exile, Hrana News Agency, September 2012
  
  https://justice4iran.org/persian/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/%D8%AE%D8%A8%D8%B1%DA%AF%D8%B2%D8%A7%D8%B1%DB%8C-%D9%87%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%A7-_-%D9%87%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%9B-%D9%87%D9%85%D8%B3%D8%B1-%D9%85%D8%AD%D8%B3%D9%86-%D8%AF%DA%AF%D9%85%D9%87_%DA%86%DB%8C-%D8%A8%D9%87.pdf
  
  Exclusive: "Behfar Lalehzari", a lawyer and civil activist, to endure 6 years in prison, Amadnews, October 14, 2017
  
  https://justice4iran.org/persian/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/%D8%A7%D8%AE%D8%AA%D8%B5%D8%A7%D8%B5%DB%8C_-%C2%AB%D8%A8%D9%87%D9%81%D8%B1-%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%87_%D8%B2%D8%A7%D8%B1%DB%8C%C2%BB-%D8%AD%D9%82%D9%88%D9%82%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%86-%D9%88-%D9%81%D8%B9%D8%A7%D9%84-%D9%85%D8%AF%D9%86%DB%8C%D8%8C-%D8%A8%D8%B1%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D8%AA%D8%AD%D9%85%D9%84%C2%AB%DB%B7-%D8%B3%D8%A7%D9%84-%D8%B2%D9%86%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%86%C2%BB-%D8%A8%D9%87-%D8%A7%D8%AC%D8%B1%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D8%A7%D8%AD%DA%A9%D8%A7%D9%85-%C2%AB%DA%A9%DB%8C%D9%81%D8%B1%DB%8C-%D9%88-%D8%B1%D8%B3%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%87-%D8%AA%D9%87%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86%C2%BB-%D9%85%DB%8C-%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%AF%D8%B3%D9%86%D8%AF-%E2%80%93-%D8%B3%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%AA-%D8%AE%D8%A8%D8%B1%DB%8C-%D8%A2%D9%85%D8%AF-%D9%86%DB%8C%D9%88%D8%B2.pdf
  
  Court of appeal upheld imprisonment, flogging and fine for Mohammad Mozaffari, HRANA News Agency, June 2016
  
  https://justice4iran.org/persian/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/%D8%AE%D8%A8%D8%B1%DA%AF%D8%B2%D8%A7%D8%B1%DB%8C-%D9%87%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%A7-_-%D8%AA%D8%A7%DB%8C%DB%8C%D8%AF-%D8%AD%DA%A9%D9%85-%D8%AD%D8%A8%D8%B3%D8%8C-%D8%B4%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%82-%D9%88-%D8%AC%D8%B1%DB%8C%D9%85%D9%87-%D9%86%D9%82%D8%AF%DB%8C-%D9%85%D8%AD%D9%85%D8%AF-%D9%85%D8%B8%D9%81%D8%B1%DB%8C-%D8%AF%D8%B1-%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%AF%DA%AF%D8%A7%D9%87-%D8%AA%D8%AC%D8%AF%DB%8C%D8%AF%D9%86%D8%B8%D8%B1-%D8%AE%D8%A8%D8%B1%DA%AF%D8%B2%D8%A7%D8%B1%DB%8C-%D9%87%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%A7.pdf
  
  Court of Appeal: Leila Hosseinzadeh was sentenced to imprisonment, HRANA News Agency, July 2017
  
  https://justice4iran.org/persian/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Zargar-1.pdf
  
  Court of Appeal: Roozbeh Meshkin Khat was sentenced to 11 years in prison, HRANA News Agency, August 2017
  
  https://justice4iran.org/persian/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Zargar-2.pdf
  
  Court of Appeal sentences Hamed Ayenehvand to 6 years in prison, HRANA News Agency, 2017
  
  https://justice4iran.org/persian/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Zargar-3.pdf
  
  Court of Appeal sentenced Farhad Meysamy to 6 years in prison, HRANA News Agency, 2017
  
  https://justice4iran.org/persian/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Zargar-4.pdf
  
  Court of Appeal; Fereshteh Tusi was sentenced to 18 months in prison, HRANA News Agency, 1398
  
  https://justice4iran.org/persian/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Zargar-5.pdf
  
  Court of Appeal; Parisa Rafiei was sentenced to 7 years in prison and 74 lashes, HRANA News Agency, 2017
  
  https://justice4iran.org/persian/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Zargar-6.pdf
Secretary of The headquarters of enjoining the good and forbidding the evil (2009 - Mar 2018)
Representative of the judiciary in the Headquarters for Combating Currency and Goods Trafficking (At least 2010- 2019)
Head of Branch 2 of the Special Court for Economic Corruption (2018 - present)
Head of Revolutionary Court, Tehran (11 Nov 2020 - present)

These violations may only be part of the human rights violations that this person has been involved in. The investigation into this person's human rights record is ongoing.

Legal Developments

On April 13, 2011, the European Union placed 32 Iranian officials, including Ahmad Zargar, on its human rights sanctions list for their role in widespread and gross violations of the rights of Iranian citizens. According to the EU statement, Ahmad Zargar, a judge in Branch 36 of the Tehran Court of Appeals, is responsible for upholding long-term prison sentences and executions against protesters. As a result of these sanctions, Zargar will be barred from entering the European Union and all his assets in Europe will be frozen.

Report a human rights violation committed by this individual