Conviction of Three Basij Members Accused of Killing a Victim of the 2009 Events to 'Three Years in Prison'

The Khabar Online website, close to Mir Hossein Mousavi, reported on Friday, June 18, that three Basij members accused of the murder of Behnoud Ramazani, a victim of the 2009 events, were sentenced to three years in prison and ordered to pay blood money for 'semi-intentional murder' by Branch 5 of the Military Court of Tehran. Behnoud Ramazani's parents stated in a statement that this ruling, which they claim was issued 'under pressure from security forces' and by 'non-independent judges,' was 'unjust.' According to the statement, despite 'the issuance of an indictment for intentional murder by Mr. Moradi, the esteemed investigator of Branch 11 of the Armed Forces Judicial Complex,' 'the defendants' confession to assault' and 'the testimony of eyewitnesses,' Branch 5 of the military court changed the charge of intentional murder to 'semi-intentional' during a commission. Ultimately, Ali Rasouli, Salar Nadi, and Afshin Kouhi, the three Basij members accused of killing Behnoud Ramazani, were sentenced to three years in prison and ordered to pay blood money. Behnoud Ramazani, a 19-year-old first-year mechanical engineering student at the University of Noshirvani in Babol, died on March 14, 2011, during protests against the results of the 2009 presidential election in 22nd Square of Narmak. According to Behnoud Ramazani's family statement, the three Basij members assaulted him in 22nd Square of Narmak 'with batons and a stun gun,' and these three confessed to the assault in court, which was also 'corroborated by eyewitnesses.' Behnoud Ramazani's parents also accused the judge of Branch 5 of the military court of 'turning a blind eye to the existing reality in the case and the defendants' confessions and witness testimonies and sufficient evidence and the forensic report that clearly stated the murder was due to multiple blows from a hard object, ignoring and unfairly' issuing the ruling. According to this report, Behnoud Ramazani's family announced that they would not attend court sessions due to 'the case's departure from a fair judicial process and the change of the indictment.' Previously, reports had also emerged regarding the acquittal of several Basij forces accused of killing protesters against the 2009 presidential election. The website Nedaye Sabz Azadi had previously reported the death of at least 72 people and the severe injury of at least 160 others during the protests against the 2009 presidential election results. This data pertains to the period of activity of the 'Committee for Following Up on the Affairs of Victims of Post-Election Events,' which was formed by Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi. Members of this committee, including Morteza Alviri and Mohammad Reza Moghiseh, were arrested in 2009, and the information available in this committee was also seized by agents of the Ministry of Intelligence.