Zahra Bahrami
Zahra Bahrami | |
|---|---|
Execution by hanging | |
| Nationality | Iranian, Dutch |
| Known for | Political Prisoner |
Zahra Bahrami, also spelled Sahra Baahrami (
In protest at her execution, the
Early life
Bahrami was born in Tehran, Iran. She later moved to the Netherlands and became a Dutch citizen by naturalisation. However, she also retained her Iranian citizenship.[1] In one passport, she spelled her name Zahra Bahrami, while spelling it Sahra Baahrami in the other.[2] She worked as a professional belly dancer and maintained a second residence in London.[3]
According to a TV show aired on Dutch broadcasting network NOS, Bahrami was found guilty of smuggling nearly 16 kilos of cocaine from the Caribbean in her luggage in 2003.
She was sentenced to three years in jail with one being suspended, according to the current affairs show Nieuwsuur.[4][5]
Arrest
In 2009, Bahrami traveled from the Netherlands to Iran, claiming that the purpose of her visit was to see one of her children. While participating in the
Tehran prosecutors charged her with the capital crime of drug trafficking. Prosecutors stated that anti-drug police had uncovered 450 grams (16 oz) of cocaine and 420 grams (15 oz) of opium during a raid on her home.
During a media interview, her daughter claimed that the charges were fabricated because Bahrami "did not even smoke cigarettes."[1][6]
Prominent human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh acted as Bahrami's defense attorney. However, on 28 August 2010, Sotoudeh's office was raided; it was unclear whether the raid had anything to do with Bahrami's case, or with Sotoudeh's other human rights activities.[7] Sotoudeh herself was arrested days later, and also imprisoned at Evin.[8] In January 2011, Soutodeh was sentenced to 6 years in prison for "acting against national security" and banned from working as a lawyer and leaving the country for 10 years.
Execution
After her appeal to Iran's Supreme Court was turned down, Iran executed Bahrami by hanging on 29 January 2011 (at 5am) in the execution chamber at Evin Prison. She became the 66th person to receive capital punishment in Iran in 2011. Her lawyer said she was shocked that the death sentence on the drugs charges had been carried out before an investigation on the security charges against her was even completed.[1]
In protest of her execution, the Dutch government froze contact with the Iranian government. The Dutch foreign minister
See also
References
- ^ a b c "Iran hangs Iranian-Dutch woman Sahra Bahrami", BBC News, 2011-01-29, retrieved 2011-01-30
- ^ a b "Death sentence fears for Dutch-Iranian woman", Radio Netherlands Worldwide, 2010-08-24, retrieved 2010-08-25
- ^ "ادامه وضعیت مبهم زهرا بهرامی", Radio Zamaneh, 2010-08-25, retrieved 2011-01-30
- trend.az, 2011-08-25, retrieved 2020-11-01
- trend.az, archived from the originalon 2011-02-05, retrieved 2020-11-01
- ^ "Iran rejects Dutch complaint over hanging". Reuters. 2011-02-01.
- ^ "Inval bij advocate Bahrami in Teheran", NRC Handelsblad, 2010-08-31, archived from the original on 2012-11-14, retrieved 2011-01-30
- ^ Advocaat Zahra Bahrami opgepakt in Teheran, 2010-09-07, archived from the original on 2012-09-27, retrieved 2011-01-30
- ^ "Dutch freeze contacts with Iran over hanging". BBC News. 29 January 2011. Retrieved 29 January 2011.
- ^ "Could the Dutch have stopped the hanging in Iran?", Radio Netherlands Worldwide, 2011-01-31, archived from the original on 2012-09-28, retrieved 2011-02-03
- ^ Lawyer In Shock Over Dutch-Iranian Client's Execution: "Her Investigation Was Not Yet Complete", International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, 29 January 2011, retrieved 2011-02-03
- Nu.nl, February 18, 2011.
External links
- Zahra Bahrami was sentenced in 2003 for cocaine smuggling in the Netherlands on YouTubeVideo clip. Television news broadcast, in Dutch and English, about Bahrami’s life in the Netherlands.