Iran has issued a death sentence on drug-related charges for Zahra Bahrami, the Iranian-Dutch citizen who was arrested in the protests of December 2009.
The court sentence also includes “confiscation of her possessions, car and house.”
Jinoose Sharif Razi, Bahrami’s lawyer told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran that her client is charged for two separate cases. The first is connected with her arrest during Ashura Day anti-government protests and the second is a charge of keeping drugs in her home.
Sharif Razi reports that they have currently only processed the file on drug charges and adds: “Since the amount of drugs discovered at her home is over a certain limit, she has been issued the death penalty.”
Bahrami’s lawyer also indicated that her client denies having any drugs at her home. Her sentence has not been confirmed yet and has been sent to the Chief Prosecutor of Iran for further deliberation.
According to this report, 400g of cocaine and 400g of opium were found in Bahrami’s home and according to Iranian law, carrying over 30g of heroine can carry the death penalty. In terms of opium, however, over 20 kg is the limit that can justify the death sentence.
According to Bahrami’s lawyer, drug charges are usually processed with greater urgency. The court sentence on drug charges cannot be appealed but are instead sent to the Chief Prosecutor for more deliberation and finalization.
Zahra Bahrami is also facing the charge of “enmity with God” in connection with her arrest on Ashura Day in December 2009.
Uri Rosenthal, Dutch foreign minister has called on the Iranian embassy to clarify Zahra Bahrami’s situation. He declared grave concern regarding the death sentence which was announced in Dutch media yesterday.
The foreign ministry issued a statement maintaining that together with the Dutch embassy in Iran, they are following up on the case to attain "information, the opportunity to provide consular assistance and a fair trial."
In the past two weeks, 22 people have been hanged in Iran for charges ranging from “enmity against God, armed robbery, carrying drugs and murder.”
After China, Iran holds the record for the highest number of executions in the world.
