Karim Zarger Executed in Rajai Shahr Prison

Karim Zarger Executed in Rajai Shahr Prison,.

Rajai-Shahr Prison in Karaj, Tehran, Iran

– Karim Zarger, former head of the School of Radio and Television in Iran, who had been recently sentenced to death along with Marjan Davari on charge of promoting  new movement  of Sufism; Eckankar, was executed in Rajai Shahr prison in Karaj.

According to the report of Human Rights Activist News Agency in Iran (HRANA), Karim Zarger, founder of the “Way of Knowledge Institute”, was executed at Rajai Shahr prison in Karaj on February 11.

Karim Zarger was born in 1953 in Ahvaz. He was a graduate of the law school from the University of Tehran and a Ph.D. in law from the University of Strasbourg, France.

He had also a history in cinematic activities. Karim Zargar began to attend the cinema with the movie named; “Arosi Khoban” directed by Mohsen Makhmalbaf, as producer and actor.

In Zargar’s career there is a history of being the director of the overseas television program, the director of the first network of broadcasting Iranian Television, the head of the Faculty of Radio and Television. He was the author of the license and the director of the monthly report of the film.

Karim Zargar was arrested along with Marjan Davari, with the closure and detention of the officials of the Institute of Rahe Marefat (The Way of Knowledge) in October 2015 and was sent to Ward 209 of Evin Prison.

The court sessions were held in Branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court, chaired by Judge Salavati, on 16, 17 and 18 October 2016, as well as on 11 and 12 December 2016.

Eventually, the court sentenced both defendants to death for charges such as corruption on earth according to Article 286 of the Islamic Penal Code.

In addition to the ruling of the Revolutionary Court, Karim Zargar was tried and sentenced to death in Branch 6 of Tehran province’s penal court in another case under the charge of “Adultery”.

In the past, Marjan Davari’s lawyer had told HRANA’s reporter: “It was an institution known as (The Way of Knowledge), although Marjan used to work more like an interpreter and counselor, someone else and other persons were responsible for this institution.

As we explained in detail in this case, about 8,000 pages were in the file. In addition, the argument about the accusation of corruption is a specific definition in the law, which, in our view as lawyers, this charge does not include Ms. Davari.”

Mr. Erfanian said in relation to the officials who had found the institution: “Mr. Karim Zarger was in charge of the institute, he was also sentenced to death, and his death sentence has been confirmed.”

HRANA reported that Marjan Davari’s death sentence had been rejected in Branch 47 of the Supreme Court on January 6, 2018 but the death sentence of Karim Zarger had been confirmed by the judicial authority.

A close friend of Mr. Zarger, who did not want to disclose their name, said in a conversation with HRANA: “In shadow of the news silence, eventually, the death sentence of Karim Zarger, 64, was executed at Rajai Shahr prison in Karaj on January 30.”

Eckankar is a new spiritual movement that was founded in 1965 in the United States. This movement claims to be empowered by spiritual forces to experience what its followers call “the light and voice of divine”.

HRANA News Agency