SCE News & Updates نوجوانان را اعدام نکنید

A word of thanks to Amnesty International for their immediate response and issuing the urgent action statement on Delara Darabi :  LINK 

Iran: Further information on death penalty / legal concern: Delara Darabi (f)

PUBLIC AI Index: MDE 13/047/2007
27 April 2007

Further Information on UA 04/06 (MDE 13/084/2006, 01 August 2006) and follow-up
(MDE 13/038/2007, 27 March 2007) - Death penalty/legal concern/health concern

IRAN Delara Darabi (f), aged 20, child offender

Delara Darabi's death sentence has been confirmed by the Supreme Court,
according to a 25 April report in the newspaper Etemad. The verdict has
apparently been sent to the office of the Head of the Judiciary, Ayatollah
Shahroudi, for consideration.

Her father has again requested that she be transferred from Rasht Prison to
Evin, in Tehran, on the grounds that conditions in Rasht may have led in part
to her January suicide attempt. Her life was saved by her cellmates, who
alerted the prison authorities. According to recent reports, Delara Darabi has
been beaten in Rasht Prison, leaving her with a broken arm, and she is in poor
health. She reportedly also suffers from a pre-existing kidney complaint. It is
not known whether she is receiving adequate medical care, but her condition has
reportedly worsened in prison.

Delara Darabi, then aged 17, reportedly burgled the house of an elderly female
relative on 29 September 2003 together with a 19-year-old man named Amir
Hossein Sotoudeh. Amir Hossein allegedly killed the woman during the burglary.
Delara Darabi initially confessed to the murder, but subsequently retracted her
confession, claiming that Amir Hossein had asked her to admit responsibility
for the murder to protect him from execution, believing that as she was under
18, she could not be sentenced to death. Iran is a state party to international
treaties, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,
that expressly prohibit the use of the death penalty for crimes committed by
those under the age of 18.

Delara Darabi was sentenced to death by Branch 10 of the General Court in Rasht
in 2005. The Supreme Court later found "deficiencies" in the case and sent it
for retrial. Following further trial sessions in January and June 2006, Delara
Darabi was sentenced to death for a second time. Amir Hossein Sotoudeh was
sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment for complicity in the murder and both
received sentences of three years’ imprisonment and 50 lashes for robbery, and
20 lashes for an "illicit relationship". Delara Darabi’s death sentence was
confirmed by the Supreme Court on 16 January 2007. According to the Etemad
report, this sentence has now been further confirmed by Branch 7 of the Iran’s
Supreme Court, sitting as a sentencing "discernment", or review, body (Sho’
be-ye tashkhis).

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Despite being a state party to international treaties which prohibit the use of
the death penalty against anyone under the age of 18 at the time of offence,
many child offenders are under sentence of death in Iran.

At least 177 people were executed in Iran in 2006, including one who was under
the age of 18 at the time of execution, and at least three others who were
under 18 at the time of the offences of which they were convicted.

On 14 January 200, judges in a Tehran criminal court cleared 19-year-old
Mahabad Fatehi (known as Nazanin Fatehi) of premeditated murder, but ordered
her to pay diyeh (blood money) to the family of the man she killed in
self-defence in March 2005. She had been sentenced to death for murder in
January 2006, but following domestic and international protests, her death
sentence was quashed by the Supreme Court in May 2006 and her case sent for
retrial (see UA 220/05, MDE 13/047/2005, 24 August 2005, and follow-ups).

Today Nazanin Afshin-Jam and Stop Child Executions campaign were on the news wires of REUTERS international news agency. The article was also published by TV Guide and washington Post. (click on the links to see the articles)   

Canada beauty queen gives "voice to voiceless" 

Fri Apr 27 21:32:20 UTC 2007

By Dean Goodman
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Move over, Bono

A budding Canadian pop singer inspired in part by the U2 rock star is setting out to save the world, and has scored an early success by leading an international campaign to free an Iranian teenage girl from a date with the hangman.

Nazanin Fatehi killed a would-be rapist in 2005 and was sentenced to death for premeditated murder. She would have joined about two-dozen other youngsters executed in the Islamic republic since 1990, according to Amnesty International, were it not for Nazanin Afshin-Jam, a Canadian singer born in Iran.

Afshin-Jam, a 28-year-old former Miss Canada, stirred up publicity by collecting 350,000 signatures in a petition addressed to the Iranian government and the United Nations. Her namesake was granted a new trial, where the original sentence was overturned. She was freed in January after two years behind bars, during which she attempted suicide. Blood money of $43,000 was paid, most of it raised by Afshin-Jam. She says the whole campaign left her broke.

The Vancouver resident has launched an effort to halt teen executions in Iran (http://www.stopchildexecutions.com), and is helping to send the uneducated Fatehi to school.

Like Bono & Co., Afshin-Jam has no qualms about using her celebrity to get the message out. She won Miss Canada in 2003 and was named first runner-up at Miss World. She has just released her first album, "Someday," which gives her another avenue to promote social justice.

SAVING THE SUFFERING

No cause is too obscure for the exotic activist. Afshin-Jam is speaking out against land purchases by Iranian mullahs in Canada. She has travelled to Ethiopia to inspect efforts to treat fistulas that cause incontinence in new mothers. Along with her sister, she is also campaigning against bear farming in China (http://www.stopbearfarming.com).

"I try to be a voice to the voiceless, no matter if they're animals or people," Afshin-Jam said in a recent interview. "Whoever's suffering, I'm going to try to help!"

She speaks four languages, boasts a degree in international relations and political science, and earned her pilot's license in the Royal Canadian Air Cadets. Her campaign for Fatehi brought her into contact with politicians and activists. She has resisted overtures to enter politics, though nothing is off the table.

But human rights activists are not superhuman, and Afshin-Jam fully realizes her limitations. She gets emails every day from people seeking help: girls raped by their brothers and facing ostracism, political prisoners who want Canada to intervene, and so on.

"All this heavy load. And I feel responsible," she says. "That's the part I feel guilty about. I'm not able to help each and every one of them."

She tries to refer them to relevant organisations, but feels bad that she cannot follow up with everyone everyday.

"If I didn't have my music, I'd just be comatose right now on the bed," she says. "Music, at least, is the one fun and upbeat and sassy thing that I'm able to resort to as my sanctuary."

"Someday," released through independent label Bodog Music, reflects Afshin-Jam's passion for fusing different musical genres, as exemplified by French-based world music group Alabina and Colombian pop singer Shakira. The title track, dedicated to Fatehi, wistfully seeks regime change in her native land.

Afshin-Jam was one when her family fled Iran in the aftermath of the Islamic Revolution of 1979. She says her father, the general manager of the Sheraton hotel, was tortured by the new regime after he continued to serve alcohol and play music, and was lucky to escape execution.

Needless to say, a homecoming is not on the cards -- especially since her parents abandoned Islam -- and therefore no face-to-face meeting with the girl she saved from the gallows.

Reuters

© Reuters 2006. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by caching, framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters and the Reuters sphere logo are registered trademarks and trademarks of the Reuters group of companies around the world.

This is a list of websites of Stop Child Executions and related sites. If you are member of any of these websites, join as a friend and pass it on to other friends on that site:  

SCE website:
www.stopchildexecutions.com

SCE Petition:
www.petitiononline.com/sce   

SCE news & Updates BLOG:
scenews.blog.com

SCE on MYSPACE:
www.myspace.com/savenazanin  

SCE on WIKIPEDIA:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stop_Child_Executions_Campaign

SCE on CARE2:
my.care2.com/childexecutions
 
SCE Delara Darabi MYSPACE:
www.myspace.com/helpdelara
 
SCE supporters on GATHER:
stopexecutions.gather.com
 
SCE supporters on ORKUT:
www.orkut.com/Profile.aspx?uid=16248847665898085143
must be an Orkut member to view>
 
SCE supporters on FACEBOOK:
www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2258845188
must be a Facebook member to view

According to Amnesty International, number of execution worldwide were reduced in 2006 comparing to 2005, except in Iran which have increased by 19.6%.

China is #1 ,Iran #2 and USA is in 3rd position, however Iran holds the number one position worldwide based on the percentage of executions in comparison its population.

Bodog Music Media Release 

Amsterdam, Netherlands (April 26, 2007) - Bodog Music recording artist and world renowned humanitarian, Nazanin, is once again speaking out for an extremely important cause. This time her attention is focused on the life of a young girl on the execution row named Delara Darabi, who is being denied a fair trial for an alleged murder when she was 17 years old . Delara is a gifted painter/artist who now calls herself "prisoner of colors"

Darabi’s attorney, Abdolsamad Khoramshahi, has gathered new evidence which proves her innocence. He has declared that examiners have shown the crime was committed by a right handed person, while Darabi is left handed. Despite Mr. Khoramshahi’s requests to present this new evidence in court, the Judiciary has refused to provide a new trial and accordingly Darabi’s sentence can be carried out at any moment

Nazanin Afshin-Jam successfully launched a campaign that gave freedom to her 17-year old namesake, Nazanin Fatehi, who was sentenced to death in Iran for having stabbed one of three attackers who tried to rape her and her 15-year old niece. She has since launched www.StopChildExecutions.com, a campaign to put a permanent end to child executions.

"There are over 30 minors on death row in Iran," Nazanin said. "The Islamic Republic of Iran is the only country in the world that continues to officially execute minors and this must be stopped immediately"

Nazanin Afshin-Jam has contacted the United Nations, trying to gather support from government officials to pressure the Iranian government to abide by human rights law and urges the public for support: "Delara Darabi has no voice in prison, and no hope. This is our last chance to have her cries heard aloud."

Nazanin is asking people worldwide to go to www.StopChildExecutions.com to learn about Delara Darabi and the other minors on death row, and pay particular attention to the "what you can do section."

"It is not too late; your voice really can make a difference," Nazanin said.

Address is as follows: Pakhuis de Zwijger (www.bezwijger.nl) -Pietheinkade 181, 1019, HC, Amsterdam.

About Bodog Music

BodogMusic.com is a division of the international digital entertainment giant, Bodog Entertainment. With six offices worldwide, the label features a diverse and growing roster of talented musicians. Bodog Music is searching for the top unsigned band in America with "Bodog Battle," which is taking place in 17 major markets and features more than 300 live shows. Bodog Music Founder Calvin Ayre, who is recognized as a world authority on branding in the digital entertainment industry, was spotlighted on the cover of Forbes magazine's best-selling "Billionaires" issue in March 2006. Bodog Entertainment also includes: an international television production division, which produces television series, such as Bodog Fight (BodogFight.com) and Calvin Ayre Wild Card Poker (Bodog.TV); a publishing division (with an online magazine, BodogNation.com, and blog, BodogBeat.com); and an events department renowned for producing parties that are stunning, chic and celebrity-filled. For more information, contact publicity@bodogmusic.com. BODOG is a registered trademark of Bodog Entertainment Group.

همانطور که از رسانه ها شنیده ایم دیروز حکم صادر شده علیه خانم دلارا دارابی از طرف شعبه 7 تشخیص دیوان عالی کشور تائید شد.

  بسیار جای تاسف دارد از این که قضات به پرونده خانم دلارا دارابی هیچگونه توجهی نکرده و موضوع سلب حیات از یک کودک 17 ساله را آسان گرفتند. در حالی که قوانین بین المللی به صراحت به عدم سلب حیات از کودکان زیر 18 سال مخالفت دارد مشاهده می کنیم که قضات عالی مرتبه قوه قضائیه به این موضوع که با قوانین بین المللی حقوق بشر و مدنی مغایرت  دارد توجه ننموده و حکم اعدام را که برخلاف قانون می باشد صادر نمودند.

 در پرونده دلارا دارابی مشکلات شکی و موهومی بسیاری وجود دارد که برای روشن شدن واقعیت بهتر بود دراین خصوص تامل مینمودند، از جمله اینکه دلارا چپ دست بوده که با توجه به محل ضربات وارد شده به بدن مقتول این نیاز به باز سازی صحنه از طرف مراجع قضایی بود که ادعا حاکی از این است که بازسازی صحنه  تا بحال انجام نشده است.

مورد دیگری که بسیار جای تامل دارد انگیزه ارتکاب جرم است. دلارا دارابی هیچ انگیزه ای برای قتل مهین نداشته است. وضعیت مالی خانواده دلارا بگونه ای بوده که لازم نبود برای سرقت مرتکب جرم شود.

لذا این جانب نیز همچنان جناب آقای خرمشاهی اعتقاد دارم حکم صادره غیر قانونی و بر خلاف شرع مقدس اسلام نیز می باشد.

محمد مصطفائی

As we heard in the media yesterday, the execution verdict of Miss Delara Darabi was confirmed by the 7^th division of the appeal review department of the supreme court of Iran.

It is very unfortunate that the judges paid no attention whatsoever to Miss Delara Darabi’s file and took the matter of taking the life of a 17 year old child so lightly. While the international laws clearly mandates against execution of children under 18 years of age, we observe that the higher judges of the judiciary paid no attention to this case and in violation of the international civil and human rights verified the death sentence.

Delara Darabi’s file has many doubtful and vague ambiguities and in order to clear the facts it was wise that the judges had exercised patience about this case. For example Delara Darabi is left-handed and the victim’s was stabbed on the side of the body which required a reenactment of the scene by the judiciary but there has never been such reenactment.

Other matter which requires much consideration is the lack of motive for the crime. Delara Darabi had no motives for the murder of Mahin (the victim). The financial status of the Delara was such that there was no need for Delara to commit robbery and the crime.

Therefore the same as Mr. Khoramshahi, I believe that the issued verdict is unlawful and it is also against the Islamic Sharia laws.

Mohammad Mostafaei  

Attorney at Law

April 26, 2007 

Nazanin Afshin-Jam has been on a busy media campaign in Europe. Nazanin has used the media attention to her newly released music album Someday as an opportunity to raise awareness about the minors facing execution in Iran and the Stop Child Executions Campaign.

Her interview with the NPR , the largest public radio in US is an example of her recent international media awareness effort.