Iran: Information on any trials or punishments handed down to those arrested during the Ghazvin riots in 1994
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 March 1996 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | IRN23378.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Iran: Information on any trials or punishments handed down to those arrested during the Ghazvin riots in 1994, 1 March 1996, IRN23378.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ac9874.html [accessed 17 September 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Sources vary as to the numbers of individuals arrested or wounded during the 3 August 1994 Qazvin (or Ghazvin) riots. According to Keesing's, "scores" of demonstrators were arrested due to the riots, "some of whom were said to have been summarily executed in Qazvin" (Aug. 1994, 40161). Amnesty International (AI) states that a number of arrests were made, approximately 80 individuals were wounded and 13 others were reportedly shot dead during this incident (17 Nov. 1994), but Agence France Presse reports that hundreds were arrested and wounded in clashes between demonstrators and the security forces (5 Aug. 1994). Additional information on these riots can be found in Responses to Information Requests IRN20778.E of 11 May 1995 and IRN19874.E of 13 March 1995, which are available at Regional Documentation Centres.
According to the attached AI Urgent Action appeal of 17 November 1994, Mohammad Khandjari was arrested on 12 November 1994 for his alleged participation in the Qazvin riots. Further information on whether punishments have been handed out to Qazvin demonstrators could not be found among the sources consulted by the DIRB.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Agence France Presse (AFP). 5 August 1994. Kianouche Dorranie. "Hundreds Arrested After Riots in Iranian City." (NEXIS)
Amnesty International (AI). 17 November 1994. Urgent Action: Fear of Torture: Iran. (AI Index: MDE 13/12/94). London: Amnesty International.
Keesing's Record of World Events [Cambridge]. August 1994. Vol. 40, No. 7-8. "Iran: Anti-Government UnrestDeath and Execution of Bombing Suspects."
Attachments
Agence France Presse (AFP). 5 August 1994. Kianouche Dorranie. "Hundreds Arrested After Riots in Iranian City." (NEXIS)
Amnesty International (AI). 17 November 1994. Urgent Action: Fear of Torture: Iran. (AI Index: MDE 13/12/94). London: Amnesty International.
Keesing's Record of World Events [Cambridge]. August 1994. Vol. 40, No. 7-8. "Iran: Anti-Government UnrestDeath and Execution of Bombing Suspects," pp. 40161-62.
Additional Sources Consulted
Amnesty International Report 1995. 1995.
Country Reports on Human Rights Practices. Yearly. 1995, 1996.
Critique: Review of the Department of State's Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1994. 1995.
Documentation, Information and Research Branch (DIRB), Immigration and Refugee Board, Ottawa. November 1995. Contextual Information Package: Iran.
_____. November 1995. Human Rights Information Package: Iran.
_____. April 1995. Iran: Chronology of Events, August 1994-February 1995.
_____. "Amnesty International: Iran" country file. August 1994 to present.
Freedom in the World: The Annual Survey of Political Rights and Civil Liberties: 1994-1995. 1995.
Human Rights in Developing Countries Yearbook. Yearly. 1994, 1995.
Human Rights Watch World Report 1996. 1995.
Keesing's Record of World Events [Cambridge]. Monthly. August 1994 to December 1995.
The Middle East and North Africa 1996. 1996.
Middle East International (MEI) [London]. Fortnightly. August 1994 to present.
UNHCR databases.
On-line search of media sources.