Abbas Daris's Lawyer: The Reason for My Client's Moharebeh Charge Was Never Proven, Yet the Death Sentence Was Issued

Farashteh Tabaniyan, the lawyer of Abbas Daris, stated in an interview with the 'Iran Watch' website that the charge of Moharebeh against her client was based on an allegation of possessing a weapon that was never proven to belong to him. Despite the political nature of the case and the consent of the victim's family, a death sentence was issued. Tabaniyan mentioned that the weapon in question was found in a neighbor's house and it was not established that it belonged to her client. The forensic report also indicated that it was unclear if the shot was fired from this weapon, as no bullet was found. According to Abbas Daris's lawyer, forensic medical experts stated that the wound on the victim's face suggested he was shot from a closer distance, and the accused could not have shot with such precision from closer range even while wearing glasses. The lawyer emphasized that 'if this were a legal case and examined according to legal standards, there would be grounds for discussion and the death sentence could be revoked. Unfortunately, this is a political case.' It is noteworthy that on January 27 of this year, the Supreme Court of the Islamic Republic rejected Abbas Daris's request for retrial, confirming the death sentence of this political prisoner. During the protests of November 2019, on November 18, Reza Sayadi, an officer of the special forces of the police, was killed in the Chamran neighborhood (Jahrahi) of Mahshahr in Khuzestan Province. According to human rights organizations, dozens were killed by government forces on that day. Following this, Abbas Daris and his brother, Mohsen Daris, were arrested on December 7 of the same year on charges of 'killing Reza Sayadi' and were subsequently tried, with Abbas Daris sentenced to death for 'Moharebeh.' Meanwhile, the family of the deceased officer has stated that they have no complaint against Abbas Daris. Human rights activists and organizations consistently regard the courts in the judicial system of the Islamic Republic as violating the minimum standards of a fair trial based on human rights treaties and assess the issued verdicts as lacking legal validity.