Ruhollah Zam’s Father: My Son Had No Opportunity to Write a Will and Did Not Know the Time of His Execution

Ruhollah Zam’s father said that his son was not informed before his execution as the law stipulates so he could write a will. He has asked Iranian authorities why there was “such haste” in executing his son and why they promised to transfer him to a public ward.

Three days have passed since the execution of Ruhollah Zam, the administrator of the Telegram channel “Amad News.” This execution triggered international reactions and prompted Mohammad Ali Zam, Ruhollah Zam’s father, to challenge the judicial branch with questions.

After the European Union, Germany, France, and many international human rights organizations protested Ruhollah Zam’s execution, Iran’s judicial branch issued a statement attempting to respond to these reactions, including responses from Zam’s father.

However, this response did not convince the Zam family, and Ruhollah Zam’s father was compelled to revisit some aspects of his son’s case on Instagram and ask the judicial authorities to answer his questions.

In his Instagram post, Zam’s father wrote that according to the regulatory procedures for carrying out death sentences approved in 1989, after issuing the sentence and notifying the accused, his lawyer, and his family, a final visit with family members is arranged so he can meet with his relatives one last time.

According to Zam’s father, the accused can express his will or testament to his family, either in writing or verbally, before the sentence is carried out.

Zam’s father continued his post by addressing his questions to “dear ones” and wrote that given the judicial branch’s announcement of confirming Ruhollah Zam’s death sentence, legal, lawful, and humanitarian questions have been raised for the family.

Mohammad Ali Zam asked: “Why was the accused kept unaware of his sentence?” and why, after the sentence was announced, was his family not only not told that this would be the last visit, but the case officer strongly emphasized that this matter be kept secret, and even “repeatedly told his son that due to better facilities and more visits, he would be transferred in two or three more days from Ward 2A (IRGC Intelligence) to a public ward.”

At the end of the first part of his Instagram post, Zam’s father, while stating that he did not have sufficient opportunity to file a legal petition, asked: “What real or legal extra-legal intent existed to expedite the execution of the death sentence?”

“What Concern Was There About the Content of Ruhollah’s Will?”

Zam’s father asked authorities about his son’s inability to write a will: “Why were the conditions for written or verbal expression of Islamic testaments, which are part of Muslim obligations, not provided for the accused and his family, and what concern about the content of Ruhollah’s will could have deprived him, his family, and his minor children from writing and possessing this historic document?!”

At the end of his post, Zam’s father asked the judicial branch to “at least provide reasonable answers to convince his family for being deprived of this legal right and to clarify the truth to society and truth-seeking people around the world.”

The judicial branch has not yet provided a clear answer to the questions raised by Ruhollah Zam’s father.

However, Zam’s execution has particularly affected Iran-Europe relations and stirred the sensitivities of European officials.

Rouhani: Zam’s Execution Will Not Harm Iran-Europe Relations

Hassan Rouhani said in a press conference on Monday, December 15, with domestic and foreign media: “The sensitivities regarding Zam’s execution suggest that he worked for them.”

Rouhani said: “It is not a good thing in the history of Mr. Zam’s life that in this country where we have capital punishment, these countries show such concern and sensitivity over this one case, leading to the conclusion that he worked for their interests.”

Rouhani further emphasized: “I believe this issue will not damage Iran-Europe relations.”

However, contrary to Hassan Rouhani’s statements, Ruhollah Zam’s execution has indeed harmed Iran-Europe relations. The European-Iranian economic meeting, which was scheduled to be held in Tehran on Monday, December 15, was canceled due to Ruhollah Zam’s execution.

Source: DW