Unfortunately, since the legal fight against supply, demand (consumption), and the harms caused by drugs began in Iran, this problem has always been viewed from a one-dimensional perspective and without investigating and searching for the factors and roots of its commission, it has only been addressed by fighting the disabled through punishments such as execution, imprisonment, and fines, and the issue has been swept under the rug. This is precisely why, during more than a century of fighting against drugs, no significant success has been achieved in any of the aforementioned three dimensions, especially the death penalty, which, even when carried out publicly, has not resulted in anything other than the reproduction of violence for society.

The problem of drugs, of course, is a global crisis, however many countries have achieved successes in reducing supply, consumption, and harm as a result of implementing expert programs to combat drugs.

Following this shortage, in this issue of the monthly magazine “Peace Line”, we have had a conversation with one of the relatives of a citizen who has recently been arrested by the judicial-security apparatus on charges related to drugs. Certainly, there are still many unanswered questions in this interview; although it may shed some light on the analysis of this issue.

It is worth mentioning that after the hanging of this citizen of Kermanshah in the Diesel Abad prison, his mother also put an end to her life by hanging herself.

With condolences for the loss of two members of your family, as the first question, please briefly tell us about Faridoun’s biography and in what environment this young man had grown up?

Fereidoon was 37 years old, had a 2-year-old child, and had not studied much beyond middle school. Fereidoon’s family, like most social classes, especially in border cities, were financially struggling; they had 7 children (5 sons and 2 daughters) and their father had a freelance job.

The environment in which Fereydoun grew up (he was born in one of the border villages near Kermanshah), had a completely rural culture, and on the other hand, he spent his youth in Kermanshah, which has an urban environment… Apart from living a normal life, he did not have much interest in it.

“این تصویر یک منظره زیبا از کوهستان است که در آن آسمان آبی و ابرهای سفید به خوبی قرار گرفته‌اند.”

This image is a beautiful landscape of a mountain where the blue sky and white clouds are perfectly placed.
Decorative photo set

Well, Faridoun was arrested about 40 months ago in Kermanshah for buying and selling drugs (specifically crystal meth). He was sentenced to death in Kermanshah court and after going through the legal process, his sentence was confirmed. After almost 40 months, he was executed for this charge.

Did they have the right to access a lawyer? What was the legal process for their case? What obstacles did their family face in this regard?

In such cases, the main problem that families are struggling with is the high cost of legal representation. Despite this issue, the Faridoun family was very persistent and even hired a lawyer. Unfortunately, in such cases where the plaintiff is not a private individual, expecting the verdict to be overturned is futile and there is nothing that can be done. The lawyer was also unable to do anything special in this case, despite all the efforts and correspondence, neither the family nor the lawyer were able to do anything.

All stages were carried out in the usual manner in Iran. As far as I am aware, all three stages of issuing the execution order were completed; the first stage of issuing the order was in the Kermanshah court and it directly went to the Supreme Court, which confirmed it. Despite the family’s lawyer’s objection for the third time, the order was unfortunately carried out.

Were they the only ones who were arrested?

No, he also had another cellmate who was a distant acquaintance of ours and he was also executed about forty days – one month before Faridoun, in the same prison of Dezful.

Why does Fereydoun have to resort to buying and selling drugs? Are you aware that they had also tried other means of making a living?

See, in a society where there is terrible unemployment and inflation is increasing day by day, especially in a place like Kermanshah which has the worst statistics in terms of unemployment, and for a class that, as the saying goes, always has six and a half, seven and a half, and the class divide is so great that we might compare a skyscraper to a crow; in any case, economic and social pressures lead people in this direction.

Fereydoun used to work on a heavy machine before this, but due to economic problems and perhaps out of necessity, he was forced to move in this direction.

I have a question that you may not have much information about: Considering that Kermanshah, despite its proximity to the border, does not have a geographical location similar to provinces such as Sistan and Baluchestan and Khorasan, how do drugs enter Kermanshah? Is this province a secondary location for buying and selling drugs?

See, in Kermanshah, just like all other cities, even the central ones in Iran, materials are smuggled in through trucks and buses. But there is such an abundance of materials in Kermanshah that we have an example there where they say, “If you want even just one kilo of heroin, go get it from the pharmacy!” This itself shows that unfortunately, this issue has engulfed society beyond measure.

Why did Farideh’s mother hang herself after her son’s execution?

The answer to this question may be very difficult and, in other words, there may not be a clear answer at all, except that there was a maternal attachment that caused this to happen. This mother fasted for almost 40 days and when we asked her why she was doing this, she would say that when my child is in prison and I don’t know what he is eating, I can’t swallow anything; Faridoun’s mother would wake up at dawn for 40 months and eat some bread, cheese, and vegetables, and do the same at the end of the night. She must have had a special attachment to her son, who was also her eldest child, which caused this to happen to herself as well…

What was the status of his meetings during this time?

Fortunately, because they were both from Kermanshah and because Faridoun was in the Diesel Abad prison, they did not have any problems and their visits were regular and weekly. They even had a phone and he would call us from prison. Perhaps this also had a great impact on his mother, because she would go every week to see her child, but one day she came to the conclusion that she would never be able to see him again.

Did they inform the family about the execution time and was there a final meeting?

No, on the morning of the day that this happened, they contacted the court and after asking about their relationship, they were told that he had been executed and they had to go to the coroner to receive the body. According to the law, on the night of the execution, the family must see their child, but this did not happen.

You said that Faridoun’s education was only up to the level of guidance. Was there ever a possibility for him to continue his education or did he give up on it himself?

Undoubtedly, no child wants to start working from a young age. Perhaps this statement may seem ridiculous and funny to those children who live in remote villages and towns, because they are used to working from a young age and their entire family lives the same way. However, the school desk and the period that belongs to all children is beloved by everyone.

Fereydoun, like other students of his age, especially in a city like Kermanshah where it can be said to have one of the worst employment conditions in Iran, was forced to leave his studies due to economic or social circumstances. Over time, he became entangled in the same issue in the same place, which is also one of the worst provinces in Iran in terms of addiction.

What were the consequences of the execution of this young person and then the suicide of the mother among the family, the community, and the place of residence or relatives?

I am trying to actually relate this issue to the issue of execution and look at it in a way that what impact execution can have in general. We live in a society where unfortunately execution is one of the main laws that is enforced, and we see that despite years passing since the implementation of this sentence, it has not been a deterrent for certain crimes. Another issue that I have heard from friends and acquaintances is that they say, this son wanted to have such a fate, but about the mother… (remains silent) I don’t know what to say, really…

Who do you consider responsible for the death of these two citizens?

“We have never sought to find a culprit or seek revenge, and I am not someone who would say, for example, that we want to take revenge on a specific person. This issue of execution is also not just about one person. However, in any case, I know that the culprit is the economic and social system that rules in society.”

In your opinion, as a member of this family, what should be done so that society does not witness the death of people like Fereydoun and his mother?

As I mentioned, these types of issues actually stem from the social problems that exist and perhaps the main reason why people like Fereydoun pursue such issues is economic problems. Therefore, as long as we do not solve this class and social gap, addiction, buying and selling drugs, and other social problems will continue. Unfortunately, in our government, execution is considered a deterrent, while the opposite is true, meaning the issue of revenge and retaliation is raised.

And your final word…?

I have nothing special to say, except that I hope this inhumane ruling will be abolished all over the world and I thank you and other friends who are pursuing the fight against execution.

We are grateful to you for giving your time to the peace line.