Family of Mohammad Salas to Pay Their Last Visit Before His Execution

According to a close source, on Saturday, June 16, the authorities of Rajai Shahr Prison told the family members of Yavar Mohammad Salas that they can visit him for the last time at Rajai Shahr Prison.

Yavar’s daughter, Narges Salas, told IHR, “My father was arrested at 2:30 p.m. He was tortured before and after the arrest. They broke his finger after his first trial when he denied the allegations of deliberately killing police officers.” She also said, “My father is currently held in solitary confinement. We ask them to give my father a chance to defend himself.”

Alireza Roshan, journalist, poet, and activist for the rights of Dervishes, told IHR, “They rejected the appeal, although Mohammad Salas’ lawyer specified that there are some witnesses who can testify that the bus driver was a young man.” Salas is a middle-aged man.  

IHR strongly urges the international community to take action to stop Mohammad Salas’ execution. Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, the spokesperson for IHR, said, “Mohammad Salas has reportedly been subjected to torture and he didn't have a fair trial. Besides being inhumane, the death sentence against Salas is unlawful and must be removed. International pressure is the only hope to save his life. We especially call on the European Union and the Norwegian government to immediately act to stop Mohammad Salas' execution".  

Mohammad Salas was arrested on February 19, 2018, after the protests of the Gonabadi dervishes. He was charged with the murder of three police officers by running over them by a bus. The third trial for Mohammad Salas was held on Sunday, March 18 and he denied the allegations against him and claimed that he didn’t kill the police officers deliberately and he just wanted to drive away without an intention to kill anyone.

Branch 9 of the Criminal Court of Tehran issued the verdict after less than two months of Mohammad Salas’s arrest while he wasn’t in touch with his lawyer during the first trial, and during the second trial, his lawyer couldn’t defend him because he had not studied the case.

Zeynab Taheri, Mohamad’s lawyer, recently announced on her telegram channel that she was made to stop her social media activities. She had earlier announced that she had requested a retrial based on the pieces of evidence she had, but the Supreme Court rejected it.