نوجوانان را اعدام نکنید SCE News and Updates archives

Eight men and one women were executed today on Christmas eve  in Evin prison in Tehran, Behnood Shojaee was spared.

In an email to Stop Child Executions , Mohammad Mostafaei the attorney of Behnood Shojaee stated that Benhnood’s name was taken off the execution list; however he still remains at risk of imminent execution. It is important to continue to demand the Islamic Republic Authorities to stop the execution of Behnoud Shojaee. 

 

Here are the updated addresses and contact information. Changes are in red

 

Head of the Judiciary
His Excellency Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi
Howzeh Riyasat-e Qoveh Qazaiyeh / Office of the Head of the Judiciary
Pasteur St., Vali Asr Ave., south of Serah-e Jomhouri,
Tehran 1316814737,
Islamic Republic of Iran
Phone: [00 98 21] 391 1109
Fax: [00 98 21] 390 4986
Email:   Shahroudi@Dadgostary-tehran.ir

Salutation: Your Excellency
 
COPIES TO:

Leader of the Islamic Republic
His Excellency Ayatollah Sayed Ali Khamenei,
The Office of the Supreme Leader
Islamic Republic Street -
Shahid Keshvar Doust Street
Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Phone: 98-21-64411
via website: http://www.leader.ir/langs/en/index.php?p=letter  (English)

http://www.leader.ir/langs/fa/index.php?p=letter (Persian )
or Email: info_leader@leader.ir

Salutation: Your Excellency

 

 

Director, Human Rights Headquarters of Iran
His Excellency Mohammad Javad Larijani
Howzeh Riyasat-e Qoveh Qazaiyeh (Office of the Head of the Judiciary)
Pasteur St, Vali Asr Ave., south of Serah-e Jomhouri,
Tehran 1316814737, Islamic Republic of Iran
Fax: +98 21 3390 4986 (there are problems with this line, please try three times)

Behnood Shojaee, a juvenile on death row is in imminent danger of execution.

Despite the fact that his execution was postponed three times, a formal statement from the European Union was released condemning his execution, a joint letter and press conference by 24 human rights groups was written, help from celebrities, and a reduction in blood money, Behnood Shojaee faces execution on Christmas eve.

Two and a half years ago, 17-year-old Behnood Shojaee was convicted of killing a 19 year old boy named Omid during a street fight involving over a dozen boys.

Shojaee says that he tried to stop the fight and used a chard of glass from a broken soda bottle in self defence. He said he hit an attacker once only with the piece of glass. Shojaee’s lawyer Mohammad Mostafaei argues that the coroner found several wounds by various objects making it unable to assess who was responsible for the fatal blow causing death.

At first the family of the victim wanted over 2 million dollars US in “blood money” compensation. After months of negotiation, and his execution being postponed three times, the “diyeh” was reduced to approximately $625,000 USD.

Shojaee who grew up with his grandparents since the death of his mother at age 10 from diabetes and a father living with depression from his tragic loss, he could not afford the required “diyeh”.

Three of Iran’s most prominent movie directors and actors ( Entezami, Parviz Parastooyi and Kiymars PoorAhmad) opened a joint account to help raise money for his “diyeh”. In an unprecedented measure, the Iranian judiciary froze the bank account, summoned the artists and threatened that “they shall be investigated and it shall be assumed that they are not aware of the special laws that were passed in 1997 by the State Expediency Council which have strengthened the punishments against corruption, embezzlement, and misappropriation and which carry punishments ranging from one to seven years of prison”.

On May 23^rd 2008, in a joint statement, 40 European countries condemned the execution of Behnood Shojaee.

In August 2008 in a press conference in Geneva and one put on by Stop Child Executions in London, 24 human rights organizations demanded Iran to Stop the execution of Behnood Shojaee and Mohammad Fadaee as well as the 132 children on death row at the time.

Despite the international pressure, Shojaei could be executed in less than two days.

This is our last chance to save Behnood Shojaee’s life.

Stop Child Executions has informed the office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights at the United Nations, members of the Canadian Government and members of the EU.

We need you to bombard the phones, faxes and email of the head of Judiciary in Iran Ayatollah Shahroudi

Head of the Judiciary
His Excellency Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi
Howzeh Riyasat-e Qoveh Qazaiyeh / Office of the Head of the Judiciary
Pasteur St., Vali Asr Ave., south of Serah-e Jomhouri,
Tehran 1316814737,
Islamic Republic of Iran

Phone: [00 98 21] 391 1109
Fax: [00 98 21] 390 4986
Email: info@dadgostary-tehran.ir (In the subject line write: FAO Ayatollah Shahroudi)
Salutation: Your Excellency 
 
COPIES TO:

Director, Human Rights Headquarters of Iran
His Excellency Mohammad Javad Larijani
Howzeh Riyasat-e Qoveh Qazaiyeh (Office of the Head of the Judiciary)
Pasteur St, Vali Asr Ave., south of Serah-e Jomhouri,
Tehran 1316814737,
Islamic Republic of Iran
Fax: +98 21 3390 4986 (there are problems with this line, please try three times)
Email: int_aff@judiciary.ir (In the subject line: FAO Mohammad Javad Larijani)  

Leader of the Islamic Republic
His Excellency Ayatollah Sayed Ali Khamenei,
The Office of the Supreme LeaderIslamic Republic Street -
Shahid Keshvar Doust Street
Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Email: info@leader.irSalutation:
Your Excellency 
 

قضات شعبه 74 دادگاه کیفری استان با این استدلال که رضایت شفاهی، درحضور عده ای از گواهان تعرفه شده، منجز نمی باشد پرونده اتهامی موکل را برای اجرا به دایره اجرای احکام ارسال نمود. پیش تر نیز دادستان تهران مقرر نموده بودند که حکم قصاص بهنود شجاعی که در سن 17 سالگی مرتکب جرم شده بود تا تاریخ 4/10/1387 اجرا گردد. با این احتساب و تفاصیل متاسفانه حکم به مرحله اجرا در آمده است و تا این تاریخ بهنود اعدام خواهد شد مگر آنکه اولیاءدم رضایت کتبی خود را اعلام کنند هر چند از نظر وکلای این پرونده رضایت به صورت شفاهی اخذ شده است.

همانطور که می دانید بهنود شجاعی در ماههای گذشته، چندین بار پای چوبه دار رفته و بنا به درخواست بسیاری از افراد خیر با دستور توقف عملیات اجرایی، اجرای حکم صادره توسط ریاست محترم قوه قضاییه متوقف  می گردد تا رضایت اولیاءدم اخذ و این نوجوان از مرگ رهایی یابد. تا اینکه به دفعات تعدادی از افراد – چه مشهور و چه غیر مشهور -  به نزد اولیاء محترم دم رفته تا بتوانند با مذاکره رضایت آنها را جلب کنند پس از بحث و تبادل نظر  مفصل، در نهایت افرادی ازجمله عزت الله انتظامی، پرویز پرستویی، سید محمد مجابی، دکتر محمود گلزاری و رضویان در تاریخ 17/4/87 به منزل اولیاء دم رفتند در این جلسه مذاکرات مفصلی در خصوص موضوع  صورت پذیرفت؛ در پایان این جلسه اولیاء محترم دم ( مادر و پدر مقتول ) صراحتآ گذشت خود را از قصاص و به دار آویختن بهنود شجاعی اعلام داشته و صراحتآ عفو از قصاص نمودند؛ بر این اساس آقایان عزت الله انتظامی، پرویز پرستویی و پور احمد برای آنکه مبلغی بعنوان دیه به اولیاء دم پرداخت کنند تا تقدیر و تشکری بر این گذشت باشد، به صورت مشترک حسابی افتتاح و از مردم درخواست شد تا کمکهای خود را به این حساب واریز نمایند. این امر در حال انجام بود تا اینکه بازپرس شعبه اول دادسرای امور جنایی تهران جناب آقای شاملو گویا با شکایت اولیاء دم، دستور مسدود نمودن حساب مشترک را  داده و مقرر می نمایند تا این هنرمندان احضار شوند؛ احضار هنرمندان بعنوان متهم، باعث ایجاد جو متشنجی در کشور می گردد به گونه ای که پرونده به دستور دادستان تهران از ید بازپرس شاملو خارج و با رسیدگی در دادسرای کارکنان دولت قرار منع تعقیب صادر می شود؛ چرا که افتتاح حساب بانکی صرفآ در راستای رضایت اعلامی بوده است.

در این خصوص ماده 229 قانون آیین دادرسی مدنی مقرر می نماید:« در مواردی که دلیل اثبات دعوا یا موثر در اثبات آن، گواهی گواهان باشد برابر مواد زیر (منظور ماده 230 ) عمل می شود در بند الف صراحتآ موضوع « عفو از قصاص » ذکر شده و حد نصاب اثبات عفو از قصاص را با گواهی دو مرد اعلام نموده است  برخلاف نظر دادیار اجرای احکام جناب آقای جابری در هیچ جایی از این مقرره ذکری از این که این بند از ماده قانونی ناظر به مواردی است که مجنی علیه قبل از مرگ جانی را از قصاص نفس عفو نماید یعنی موردی که در ماده 268 قانون مجازات اسلامی به آن تصریح دارد،  نشده است این بند از قانون عام بوده و تمامی مواردی که در نهایت منجر به قصاص عضو یا  نفس می شود را شامل می گردد، اینکه دادیار محترم اجرای احکام بر خلاف موازین قضایی در جایگاه قاضی تصمیم گیرنده حکم قرار گرفته و رفع ابهام می کند و در نهایت اظهار نظر به زیان محکوم علیه می نماید، صرفنظر از اینکه بر خلاف رویه و عدالت قضایی وآیین دادرسی اجرای احکام است در ماهیت فاقد وجاهت قانونی می باشد. ولی به هر حال تنها مرجع صالح برای رسیدگی به این موضوع مهم را که جان آدمی در میان است، دادگاه  صادرکننده حکم رای بدوی می باشد؛ لذا در راستای رسیدن به واقعیت طی لایحه ای از قضات شعبه 74  استدعا نمودم تا مقرر نمایند با تعیین وقت از حاضرین جلسه صلح وسازش دعوت گردد تا شهادت آنان را استماع نمایند. چرا که تصریح بند قانونی فوق الذکر مشخصآ به موارد کیفری بوده و بدیهی است که در امور حقوقی موضوعی تحت عنوان قصاص وجود ندارد که عفو از قصاص را بدان بار نمایید و بگوییم این عنوان مندرج در باب ادله اثبات، صرفا به امور حقوقی تصریح دارد و ارتباطی به مواردی کیفری نخواهد داشت. قصاص طبق بند 2 ماده 12 قانون مجازات اسلامی از جمله اقسام پنجگانه مجازاتهاست که صرفا به امور کیفری اختصاص دارد لذا ادعای مطروحه قابلیت استماع و رسیدگی دارد لیکن دادگاه این ادعا را قابل استماع ندانست و رد نمود.

هر چند عقیده دارم حکم صادره به هیچ عنوان عادلانه نیست این درخواست کاملا قانونی بوده و لازم است تا قضات شعبه 74 دادگاه کیفری استان از شهود دعوت بعمل آورده و در خصوص گذشت یا عدم گذشت اولیاءدم تحقیق بیشتری نماید.

 

اینجانب در تاریخ 7/2/1387 به زندان رجایی شهر کرج رفته و وکالت آقای بهنود شجاعی  را که توسط قضات شعبه 74 کیفری استان تهران طی دادنامه شماره 62 مورخ 10/7/1385 محکوم به قصاص نفس شده را پذیرفتم. در تاریخ 8/2/1387 به دایره اجرای احکام دادسرای ناحیه 27 تهران ویژه امور جنایی مراجعه و توانستم پرونده اتهامی موکلم را مطالعه کنم. ضمن آنکه  ایراداتی  و ابهامات بسیاری در اجرای حکم صادره وجود دارد تمام مراحل و تشریفات اجرا طی شده و با استیذان از آن مقام معظم وقت اجرای حکم به تاریخ 18/2/1387 ساعت 5 صبح در محل زندان اوین تعیین شده است این حکم با دستور ریاست قوه قضاییه متوقف گردید بعد از آنهم وقت اجرا تعیین شده بود که باز هم به دلیل حساسیت موضوع اجرای حکم متوقف شد اینجانب به همراه  آقای اولیایی فر اقدامات فراوانی نمودیم تا پرونده مجددا مورد بررسی قرار کیرد ولی متاسفانه به اظهارات قانونی مان توجهی نشد به هر حال شرحی از پرونده از نظر گرامیتان می گذارد.

1-   چون موکلم در زندان بازداشت بوده و دسترسی به امکانات خارج از زندان به خصوص وکیل مدافع نداشت به ناچار تقاضای اعمال ماده 18 قانون تشکیل دادگاههای عمومی و انقلاب خود، مبنی بر رسیدگی مجدد به پرونده و اعاده دادرسی، را در تاریخ 10/5/1387 مرقوم و از همان محل به شعبه 74 دادگاه کیفری استان ارسال می نماید ریاست محترم شعبه در ذیل درخواست موکل دستور می دهند که اعمال ماده 18 اقدام گردد به عبارت دیگر دستور ریاست شعبه حاکی از آن بود که طبق ماده 18 قانون یادشده، پرونده به مرجع ذیصلاح که همان دادستان کل کشور می باشد ارسال شود ولی متاسفانه  به این خواسته قانونی موکل ترتیب اثر داده نشد.اجرای حکم قصاص نفس موکل از این لحاظ که حق وی مبنی بر اعاده دادرسی و درخواست رسیدگی مجدد معلق مانده، جای تردید دارد چه بسا امکان نقض دادنامه صادره از این طریق وجود دارد.

2-   در تاریخ 28/5/1384 زمانی که موکل 17 سال بیشتر نداشت به این طریق نزاعی در ونک پارک تهران رخ می دهد که یکی از دوستان موکل به نام حسام با وی تماس می گیرد و موضوع اختلاف خود با فردی به نام امید را مطرح می کند موکل برای حل و فصل اختلاف آنان وارد ماجرا می شود موکل به محل وقوع جنایت می رود و می بیند مقتول با دوستش در حال جر و بحث می باشد موکل آنها را جدا می کند و در حین برگشت مقتول به موکل ناسزا می گوید درگیری بین این دو آغاز می شود موکل ادعا می کند که در دست مقتول چاقو بوده است وی برای دفاع از خود تکه شیشه ای تهیه و در شدت درگیری با شیشه ای که در دست داشت یک بریدگی بر روی سینه مقتول ایجاد می کند و متواری می شود. پرونده ای در این رابطه تشکیل و تحقیقات مقدماتی آغاز می گردد و در نهایت موکل بنا به درخواست اولیاءدم محکوم به مرگ می گردد.

3-   موکل به دادنامه صادره از شعبه 74 دادگاه کیفری استان اعتراض می کند و اعلام می دارد که تنها یک ضربه چاقو به مقتول زده و بیش این     ضربه ای وارد نکرده و بارها منکر ارتکاب جرم قتل عمد شده است لیکن قضات شعبه 33 دیوانعالی کشور نیز ترتیب اثر نداده و حکم صادره را طبق دادنامه شماره 134 در مورخه 9/4/1386 تایید می نمایند تایید این دادنامه در حالی است که ایرادات بسیاری در پرونده وجود دارد که تعدادی از آنها را به اختصار بر می شمارم:

اولا- در گواهی پزشکی قانونی جراحتهای وارد به مقتول ذکر شده و علت تامه مرگ نیز عنوان شده است لیکن ادعای موکل که عنوان نموده، تنها یک ضربه به مقتول زده است ترتیب اثر داده نشده است در این مورد لازم و ضروری بود تا مرجع رسیدگی کننده به پرونده، از پزشکی قانونی استعلام می نمود که آیا بریدگیهای وارد شده به مقتول هر دو بر اثر اصابت یک جسم برنده می باشد یا از دو جسم تیز و برنده استفاده شده است. مطمئنا در صورتی که پزشکی قانونی گواهی می نمود یا نماید که از دو جسم برنده استفاده شده است نشان   می دهد شخص دیگری نیز در هنگام درگیری سلاح سرد در دست داشته است و این موضوع تاثیر بسزایی در مسئولیت کیفری موکل دارد.

ثانیا- موکل از بدو دستگیری  و در مراحل دادرسی، اذعان داشته که با شیشه به مقتول آنهم تنها یک ضربه وارد نموده است. برخی از شهود نیز اظهارات موکل را گواهی نموده اند این موضوع می بایست توسط پزشکان پزشکی قانونی مورد بررسی قرار می گرفت که بریدگی ایجاد شده توسط چه نوع جسم برنده ای، ایجاد شده است که متاسفانه تحقیقات در این زمینه تنها در چارچوب بازجویی از شهود صورت گرفته، شهودی که اظهارات متعارضشان، شهادت را از عداد دلایل خارج می کند.

ثالثا- یکی از مواردی که رافع مسئولیت کیفری متهمین یا مجرمین می باشد موضوع دفاع مشروع است متاسفانه مرجع رسیدگی کننده به پرونده در این خصوص نیز هیچگونه تحقیقی به عمل نیاورده است بر مرجع قضایی است که هم دلایل به نفع متهم و هم دلایل به ضرر او را جمع آوری کند در این پرونده دلایل بسیاری وجود دارد که نشان می دهد موکل در مقام دفاع مشروع حتی آن یک ضربه چاقوی مورد ادعای خود را وارد نموده است هر چند او از کرده خویش پشیمان بوده و تقاضای عفو و بخشش از اولیاء دم را دارد.

رابعا- طبق ماده 37 کنوانسیون حقوق کودک که مقرر می نماید :« … مجازات مرگ و یا حبس ابد را بدون امکان بخشودگی نمی توان در مورد کودکان که در سن زیر 18 سالگی مرتکب جرم شده اند اعمال نمود.» و با تصویب مجلس شورای اسلامی در سال 1372 و عدم مغایرت این ماده قانونی با موازین شرعی طبق نظر شورای نگهبان، حکم صادره، مخدوش می باشد.

 

 

                                       محمد مصطفایی وکیل بهنود شجاعی

UPDATED: Sep 5, 2008

In an appeal Mohammad Mostafaei , Iranian attorney who represents many of the juveniles who are facing execution in Iran asked for help before another one of his clients get executed soon.

Bahman Saliamian is accused of killing his grandmother in 1996 . Bahman who was 15 years old at the time of crime was initially sentenced to 5 years imprisonment and payment of retribution, however after appeal by the victim’s next of kin’s, after 12 years , he is now sentenced to death and he is anticipated to be hanged soon. Bahman is now 27 years old is kept in Isfahan prison. According to his attorney, Bahman suffered from mental issues and he was not in a normal state of mind at the time of murder and he even attempted to committed suicide shortly after he realized what he had done.

Judiciary of city of Isfahan last week also executed Reza hejazi accused of murder at the age of 15. Although Reza’s attorney , Mostafaei, was assured on the day of execution that Reza would not be killed but only one hour later Mostafaei was informed that his client was executed without the presence of the attorney or the parents.

In his plea letter Mostafaei wrote: ” While still in the shock and sorrow of Reza Hejazi’s execution, I just heard of imminent execution of Bahman Salimian!”.

“Today Bahman Salimian, Mohammad Fadaee, Behnood Shojaee, Behnam Zare and all those who are sentenced to death for a crime committed during childhood are in need of our help and support. I desperately beg all of you to help save their lives by writing and expressing your oppositions to the current trend of executions of so many children ” He added. Mostafei’s email is : mostafaeilawyer@gmail.com.

Bahman Salimian’s name was not among the list of juveniles known by SCE to face execution in Iran. To date we have recorded 135 Iranian juveniles on the execution row.

To help save Bahman Salimian from execution please also immediately contact the following individuals and ask for immediate halt to Reza’s execution:

PLEASE ALSO COPY YOUR EMAILS TO

info@stopchildexecutions.com

and to Mohammad Mostafaei at

mostafaeilawyer@gmail.com

.

Alireza Jamshidi, Spokesperson of Iran’s judiciary

+98 912 159 5504

Mohammad Shirj, Head of Judiciary Special supervision
+98 21 664 05170
+98 21 664 05171
+98 21 664 05172

+98 21 664 07070

Head of the Judiciary

Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi

Email:

info@dadgostary-tehran.ir

(In subject line write: FAO Ayatollah Shahroudi)

Leader of the Islamic Republic

Ayatollah Sayed ‘Ali Khamenei,

info@leader.ir

President

Fax: +98 21 6 649 5880
Email:

dr-ahmadinejad@president.ir

(via website)

http://www.president.ir/email/

 

Director, Human Rights Headquarters of Iran
Mohammad Javad Larijani
C/o Office of the Deputy for International Affairs
Ministry of Justice,
Fax: +98 21 5 537 8827 (please keep trying)

rooz - Nader Irani

In an unprecedented measure, the Iranian judiciary froze a joint bank account that had ‎been opened by three of the country’s most prominent movie directors and actors with the ‎purpose of collecting money to pay the “Diye” (i.e. blood money) set for a man currently ‎on the death row. The three revered personalities are Ezzatollah Entezami, Parviz ‎Parastooyi, and Kiyumars PoorAhmad who have been active to prevent the execution of a ‎death sentence on Behnood Shojayi, who is on the death row.‎

(Behnood) Shojaee was sentenced to death by an Iranian court for having killed his playmate, when ‎both were still juveniles. To complicate matters, his family has been unable to meet the ‎Diye, which if collected and handed over to the victim’s next of kin, could

open the door ‎for the latter’s consent not to execute the death penalty over the accused. The initiative of ‎the three film actors has been widely welcomed by the public, and young Iranian ‎journalists who have expressed public gestures of support. This public enthusiasm and ‎response to collect money for the Diye has been so wide that the victim’s relatives agreed ‎to provide the necessary consent before the Diye amount had been collected; a move that ‎can prevent the execution of Shojayi.‎

Under these circumstances, it was surprising that the names of the three well-known and ‎liked Iranian artists made news when they were summoned by a court whose prosecutor ‎had pretty harsh words for the good Samaritans. “By opening a joint account, these ‎individuals wanted to impress upon people to sympathize with the convicted criminal, ‎whose punishment remains the Ghesas” (loosely translated to mean ‘eye-for-an-eye ‎punishment’ as prescribed in Islam), the prosecutor announced.‎

Shamloo, the prosecutor of the first bench of Tehran’s criminal court added, “A ‎newspaper published a news report about the sympathy of journalists and cinema actors ‎for a convicted criminal by opening a joint bank account, an act that is illegal and which ‎is why the court issued a freeze on the bank account.”‎

Iran’s official state news agency, ISNA, reported that in addition to freezing the bank ‎account, the prosecutor had summoned the three cinema stars to learn of the “basis on ‎which they had opened the account.”‎

Following the publication of this news, Jame Jam Online website reported that Tehran’s ‎deputy prosecutor, judge Fakhreddin Jaafarzadeh announced that the bank account had ‎been frozen because it was not clear who was its owner.” At the same time, he denied ‎reports that three actors had been summoned to the court, but in remarks that seemed to ‎substantiate the summons said, “If an artist were to be summoned to court, it would be for ‎information purposes, and not as suspects.” ‎

But perhaps most surprising were his comments that appeared to be threatening the ‎artists, even though he made some positive remarks about them by saying that artists ‎enjoy greater respect than the accusations that have been flouted against them.” He added ‎that, “Even if it is established that a group of artists are the owners of this bank account, ‎they shall be investigated and it shall be assumed that they are not aware of the special ‎laws that were passed in 1997 by the State Expediency Council which have strengthened ‎the punishments against corruption, embezzlement, and misappropriation and which ‎carry punishments ranging from one to seven years of prison.” ‎

PUBLIC  AI Index: MDE 13/117/2008                   15 August 2008

Further Information on UA 114/08 (MDE 13/065/2008, 29 April 2008) and follow-ups (MDE 13/066/2008, 8 May 2008; MDE 13/081/2008, 12 June 2008; MDE 13/101/2008, 25 July 2008) – Imminent execution

IRAN  Behnoud Shojaee (m), aged 20, juvenile offender

Behnoud Shojaee is again in imminent danger of execution: his family was unable to afford the diyeh, or financial compensation, required to obtain a pardon. His execution, which was due to take place on or around 12 August has been postponed until the end of August 2008.

Behnoud Shojaee was sentenced to qesas (retribution) by Branch 74 of the Criminal Court in Tehran on 2 October 2006, after he was found guilty of killing a boy named Omid the previous year, when he was 17. Behnoud Shojaee had no legal representation at his trial.

He was twice granted a stay of execution by the head of the judiciary, Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi, to allow time for further negotiations over diyeh between his and Omid’s families. However, although the Omid’s family agreed to reduce the diyeh they demanded, from US$2,085,000 to US$625,000, this is still more than Behnoud Shojaee’s family can afford.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Since 1990 Iran has executed at least 35 juvenile offenders, eight of them in 2007 and four in 2008.

The family of a murder victim have the right either to insist on execution, or to pardon the killer and receive financial compensation. A convicted murderer has no right to seek pardon or commutation from the state, in violation of Article 6(4) of the International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).

The execution of juvenile offenders is prohibited under international law, as stated in Article 6 (5) of the ICCPR and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), of which Iran is a state party to and so has undertaken not to execute anyone for crimes committed when they were under 18.

On 8 July 2008, during a press conference in Geneva, Switzerland, Amnesty International published a joint statement with over 20 other international and regional human rights organizations calling on Iranian authorities to stop imposing the death penalty for crimes committed by juvenile offenders, and to uphold their international obligation to enforce the absolute prohibition on the death penalty in such cases. See Iran: Spare four youths from execution, immediately enforce international prohibition on death penalty for juvenile offenders, available at: http://www.amnesty.org/en/for-media/press-releases/iran-spare-four-youths-execution-immediately-enforce-international-prohi 
 
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible, in Persian, Arabic, English or your own language:
- expressing concern that Behnoud Shojaee is at risk of execution for a crime committed when he was under 18;
- calling on the authorities to commute his death sentence;
- reminding them that Iran is a state party to both the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which prohibit the use of the death penalty against those under the age of 18 at the time of offence, and that to execute Behnoud Shojaee would therefore be a violation of international law;
- urging the authorities to pass legislation to abolish the death penalty for offences committed by people under the age of 18, so bringing Iran’s domestic law in line with its obligations under international law.

APPEALS TO:

Head of the Judiciary
Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi
Howzeh Riyasat-e Qoveh Qazaiyeh / Office of the Head of the Judiciary
Pasteur St., Vali Asr Ave., south of Serah-e Jomhouri, Tehran 1316814737, Islamic Republic of Iran
Email:  info@dadgostary-tehran.ir (In subject line write: FAO Ayatollah Shahroudi)
Salutation:  Your Excellency

Leader of the Islamic Republic
His Excellency Ayatollah Sayed ‘Ali Khamenei, The Office of the Supreme Leader
Islamic Republic Street - Shahid Keshvar Doust Street
Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Email: info@leader.ir
Salutation:  Your Excellency

COPIES TO:

President
His Excellency Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
The Presidency
Palestine Avenue, Azerbaijan Intersection
Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Fax:   +98 21 6 649 5880
Email:   dr-ahmadinejad@president.ir
(via website) http://www.president.ir/email/

Director, Human Rights Headquarters of Iran
His Excellency Mohammad Javad Larijani
C/o Office of the Deputy for International Affairs
Ministry of Justice,
Ministry of Justice Building, Panzdah-Khordad (Ark) Square,
Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Fax:   + 98 21 5 537 8827 (please keep trying)

and to diplomatic representatives of Iran accredited to your country.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat, or your section office, if sending appeals after 26 September 2008.

Following is a letter that Stop Child Executions received today from the family of Behnoud Shojaee:

17 year old Behnoud in 25/5/1384 tried to stop a fight between 15 young people. During the incident unintentionally become involved in murdering a 19 year young man. The victim was killed by two different hits from two different weapons which could not be done by same person. Behnoud in a very fast investigation, and followed by that trail without the presence of his lawyer was convicted to first class murder, and death penalty. Behnoud lost his mother who was from diabetics when he was only 10 years old and lived with his father, who was heavily depressed due to grief of losing his wife. So he moved to live with his grandparents and he had a happy life with them who were well educated and religious people. He was a very talented, fresh, young man, and his hobbies were playing team sport activities and he had no criminal record up to the date of the incident. 
Now he has been moved to the especial department of the jail to wait for the execution.

The victim’s family has been contacted many times by different group of people including, charities, cinema stars, NGO, human rights activists, etc to ask for their forgiveness, as by the domestic law they are the only one who can forgive Behnoud and stop the execution permanently. Initially they agreed to receive $2,085,000 and forgive Behnoud, but then they reduced it to $625,000. Still Behnoud’s family who are mostly retired people, living on pension, can not afford to pay this amount of money and if they fail to do so Behnound will be executed.

(A bank account has been opened in Iran attempting to collect funds at Melli Bank, BaghFerdous branch, Account Number 717865 )

To read about Behnoud Shojaee:  http://scenews.blog.com/3094669/
To read abount Mohammad Fadaee visit: http://scenews.blog.com/3176209/

Behnoud Shojaee is scheduled to be executed this Wednesday .

Although there is less than 48 hours left to Behoud’s execution but  in violation of Iran’s laws his attorney has not be  been formally informed yet.

For more information and to help save Behnoud visit: http://scenews.blog.com/3094669/ 

04.06.2008

 

EU Presidency statement on the imminent execution of juvenile offenders in Iran

 

The Presidency of the EU expresses its deep concern on news of the imminent execution of Mr Mohammad Fadaei who was convicted and sentenced to death for a crime committed when he was a minor. Mr Fadaei is scheduled to be executed on 11 June 2008. Two other juvenile offenders, Mr Behnood Shojaee and Mr Saeed Jazee, who were also convicted of crimes which took place when they were minors, have also been scheduled for execution on 11 June and 25 June 2008 respectively.
The Presidency notes that these juvenile death sentences are in direct contravention of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s international obligations and commitments, specifically as set out in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, both clearly prohibiting the execution of minors or people who have been convicted of crimes committed when they were minors. These international legal obligations have been freely entered into by the Islamic Republic of Iran and must be fully respected by the Iranian authorities.
The Presidency calls on the Islamic Republic of Iran to comply with international law and to immediately halt the executions of Mr Mohammad Fadaei, Mr Behnood Shojaee, Mr Saeed Jazee and all other juvenile offenders on death row, taking in consideration alternative sentences for juvenile offenders and respect for international norms and standards that provide safeguards guaranteeing the protection of the rights of those facing the death penalty.
The European Union has previously raised its concerns with the Iranian authorities concerning the use of juvenile death penalty and has specifically raised the cases of Mr Behnood Shojaee and Mr Saeed Jazee also in this regard.

SCE was informed that Behnoud Shojaee is scheduled to be executed on Wednesday June 11. Saeed Jazee’s execution is set for Wednesday June 25. This is their last chance before execution. To help save their life please visit the following links:

Behnoud: http://scenews.blog.com/3094669/

Saeed Jazee: http://scenews.blog.com/3139759/

How you can help: http://www.stopchildexecutions.com/how-you-can-help.aspx

On behalf of the European Union, the EU presidency on Friday urged Iran to
halt the execution of Saeed Jazee, Behnoud Shojaee and more than 95 other  juvenile offenders on death row. Following a formal protest by the EU on May 4, the head judiciary of Iran postponed the execution of Shojaee, 20, who was 17 years old when he killed another boy in a street brawl in Tehran . The one month postponement order came from the head of the judiciary, Hashemi Shahroudi, seeking a settlement with the victim’s family.  Both mediation attempts have failed so far and Behnoud is facing execution in two weeks.

According to prevailing laws in Iran , victims’ families can either demand the implementation of the death sentence or receive blood money retribution instead.

The other juvenile , Saeed Jazee was convicted of the murder of a 22-year-old man in 2003, when he was 17. Last week Ayatollah Sharudi issued the final authorization to execute Saeed and now he is also hoping for a pardon by the alleged victim’s family.

Following the news Stop Child Executions and Amnesty International issued urgent action calls to stop the execution.

Stop Child Executions Campaign thank the presidency of the European for the immediate response. Additionally SCE president , Nazanin Afshin-Jam has contacted both United Nations and the Canadian government about the pending executions of Saeed Jazee and Behnood Shojaee. The UN has already passed the matter to appropriate mechanisms for necessary actions.

Declaration by the Presidency on behalf of the EU on the imminent execution of Behnoud Shojaee and Saeed Jazee

23.05.2008

The EU is deeply concerned by the news of the imminent execution of Behnoud Shojaee and Saeed Jazee, who were convicted and sentenced to death for crimes committed when they were minors.
The EU notes that these juvenile death sentences are in direct contravention of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s international obligations and commitments, as explicitly set out in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, both clearly prohibiting the execution of minors or people who have been convicted of crimes committed when they were minors.
The EU urges the Islamic Republic of Iran to comply with International Law and to immediately halt the execution of Mr Shojaee and Mr Jazee and of all other juvenile offenders on the death row, taking in consideration alternative sentences for juvenile offenders.

The Candidate Countries Turkey, Croatia* and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia*, the Countries of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidates Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia, and the EFTA countries Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, members of the European Economic Area, as well as Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova align themselves with this declaration.
_{* Croatia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.}

Austria Belgium Bulgaria Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Ireland Italy Latvia

Lithuania Luxembourg Malta The Netherlands Poland Portugal Romania Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden United Kingdom

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