نوجوانان را اعدام نکنید SCE News and Updates archives

Source: http://www.amnesty.org/en/for-media/press-releases/saudi-arabia-two-juveniles-executed-saudi-authorities-among-group-five-2

Saudi Arabia: Two juveniles executed by Saudi authorities among a group of five

مجموعه فعالان حقوق بشر در ایران  : در محدود زمانی 5 دیماه سال جاری زندان مرکزی سنندج شاهد اعدام هشتمین نوجوان در طی سال  2008 میلادی در ایران بود. احمد زارعی نوجوانی که در سن 17 سالگی در روستای محل سکونت خود در حومه شهر سنندج مرتکب قتل فرد دیگری شده بود پس از سپری نمودن بیش از 6 سال زندان از بند 5 این زندان به سلولهای ویژه منتقل و در محدوده زمانی مذکور در محوطه این زندان پیش از شروع ماه محرم که معمولا در آن اعدام صورت نمیگیرد به چوبه دار آویخته شد. جسد وی پس از اعدام، جهت طی مراحل قانونی و تدفین به خانواده ایشان واگذار گردید.

Source: Amnesty International

A girl stoned to death in Somalia this week was 13 years old, not 23,
contrary to earlier news reports. She had been accused of adultery in
breach of Islamic law.

Aisha Ibrahim Duhulow was killed on Monday 27 October, by a group of 50
men in a stadium in the southern port of Kismayu, in front of around
1,000 spectators. Somali journalists who had reported she was 23 have
told Amnesty International that they judged her age by her physical
appearance.

Inside the stadium, militia members opened fire when some of the
witnesses to the killing attempted to save her life, and shot dead a boy
who was a bystander. An al-Shabab spokeperson was later reported to have
apologized for the death of the child, and said the militia member would
be punished.

At one point during the stoning, Amnesty International has been told by
numerous eyewitnesses that nurses were instructed to check whether Aisha
Ibrahim Duhulow was still alive when buried in the ground. They removed
her from the ground, declared that she was, and she was replaced in the
hole where she had been buried for the stoning to continue.
 
Aisha Ibrahim Duhulow was accused of adultery, but sources told Amnesty
International that she had in fact been raped by three men, and had
attempted to report this rape to the al-Shabab militia who control
Kismayo. It was this act that resulted in her being accused of adultery
and detained. None of men she accused of rape were arrested.

She was detained by militia of the Kismayo authorities, a coalition of
Al-shabab and clan militias. During this time, she was reportedly
extremely distressed, with some individuals stating she had become
mentally unstable.

Source
http://www.amnesty.org/en/news-and-updates/news/child-of+-13-stoned-to-death-in-somalia-20081031
 
Related article: http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5gDlw7zYhGCUujV64GSv-BEJdMkFg

Stop Child Executions organization regrets to inform that another minor was executed this week, bringing a total of 7 children executed this year.

On Wednesday October 29th,  Gholamreza Saeedi an Afghan national residing in Iran was executed by hanging in a prison in Isfahan, Iran . This  is in direct violation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and to the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), to which Iran is state party.

More details to follow

 

صبح هشتم آبانماه جوان 19 ساله اي كه در سال 85 فردي را با ضربات چاقو به قتل رسانده بود به دار مجازات آويخته شد.

به گزارش سايت دادگستري كل استان اصفهان http://dadgostary-es.ir/cms/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1290&Itemid=1در تاريخ 29/8/85 جسد مجهول الهويه اي در يكي از خيابانهاي شهرستان نجف آباد اصفهان كشف مي گردد، پس از عزيمت مأمورين در بررسي هاي اوليه مشخص مي شود جسد متعلق به جواني افغاني به نام شيرآغا حسيني بوده كه ظاهراً در پي يك نزاع خونين و بر اثر اصابت ضربات  چاقو به قتل رسيده است با حضور بازپرس ويژه قتل دستور معاينه جسد و انتقال آن به پزشكي قانوني صادرو  تحقيقات آغاز مي گردد.

در بازجوئي از چند تن از دوستان مقتول مشخص مي شود شخصي به نام غلامرضا . ح كه او هم افغاني و از دوستان مقتول بوده با او تماس گرفته و ظاهراً در قرار ملاقات بين آنها قتل به وقوع پيوسته است .

غلامرضا پس از احضار در بازجوئي اوليه لب به اعتراف گشوده و اظهار مي دارد: مدتي بود كه دوستانم مدام به من كنايه مي زدند كه شيرآغا (مقتول) براي ناموس و خواهرت حرفهايي مي زند اين مسئله شديداً مرا آزار مي داد و باعث آبروريزي ام شده بود از اين رو بالاخره تصميم گرفتم كه به اين ماجرا پايان دهم و با خريد يك عدد چاقو از حيدرآباد اصفهان به سمت نجف آباد حركت كردم با شيرآغا تماس گرفتم و با او قرار گذاشتم وقتي در محل ملاقات با او رو در رو شدم با عصبانيت به او حمله كرده و با چاقو ضربه اي محكم به شكم او وارد آوردم و وقتي كه خم شد چند ضربه ديگر هم به پشت و كمر او وارد آورده و از صحنه فرار كردم.

بر همين اساس و نظر به تقاضاي اولياي دم مقتول قضات شعبه 17 كيفري استان اين قاتل را گناهكار تشخيص داده و به موجب مواد مربوطه در قانون مجازات اسلامي و بدون در نظر گرفتن کنوانسیون حقوق کودک وي را به قصاص نفس محكوم نمودند و اين حكم پس از تأئيد ناعادانه شعبه 33 ديوانعالي كشور و استيذان رئيس قوه قضائيه صبح امروز در محوطه زندان مركزي اصفهان به اجرا در آمد.

NOTE: Stop Child Executions has not independently verified this execution or the exact age at the time of alleged crime (17 or 18  ?).  If you have any additional information about this news please email to info@stopchildexecutions.com

(NCRI)  A 21-year-old identified as Homayon Shabestari was hanged in the western city of Kermanshah on Monday. He allegedly committed a crime in 2005 when he was a minor. 

Earlier this month, the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR) expressed grave concern over the violation of human rights in Iran. U.N. Human Rights official, Rupert Colville, told reporters “On the 27th of July, for example, 29 executions are reported to have taken place. A month later, on the 28th of August, another five people, including a woman, were reported to have been executed. In all, more than 220 people, including six juvenile offenders, are believed to have been executed this year in Iran already.

“Iran’s legal obligation not to impose the death penalty for juveniles was assumed voluntarily when it ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, both of which prohibit the death penalty for crimes committed by people below the age of 18,” Coleville added.

“Makwan: a letter from Paradise” is a video-poem by Roberto Malini and Dario Picciau dedicated to 21-year-old Makwan Moloudzadeh who was hung in prison on December 2007 while the international campaign to save his life was collecting signatures and gaining momentum all over the world.

Iranian Kurd Makwan Moloudzadeh was sentenced to death for rape when he was 13 years old. He was hanged on December 5, 2007 in the morning at a prison in Kermanshah province in western Iran. Makwan was executed despite teh boys who had alleged him of rape, withdrew their accusations. A judicial review and stay of execution was ordered into the sentence but ignored by local authorities. Nothing was done to the local authorities for carrying the death sentence.

In a statement titled “crocodile tears on the cheeks of divisionists” the public relations of the courts of city Kermanshah , where Makwan Moloudzadeh was executed , referred to Makwan as a “villain with background”. They referred to the execution as the mean to bring the “sense of security” and “public satisfaction”. The local judiciary blamed the “centers of creation of propaganda” for the lying about Makwan. They further blamed Makwan’s attorney for abusing words such as “innocent” and “child” in order to influence the public emotions. 

It was reported that thousands of local residents attended Makwan’s funeral. Makwan died an innocent boy. He has become a symbol, both in Iran and throughout the world, for all those who are committed to fighting the inhuman logic of the death penalty.

Thousands of activists all over the world had made a desperate appeal to the authorities and sent them white and red flowers in an attempt to stop the executioner taking his young life. At his funeral a large crowd of townspeople accompanied Makwan’s mortal remains, and prayed that his sacrifice would serve to save other human lives by inviting those in power and the judges to realise the horror of the death penalty. This video-poem was made with the support of the Moloudzadeh family, and Makwan’s Uncle Mahmoud who lives in Germany.

Two great actors have given their important contribution to the work, lending their voices to this message to humanity: Emiliano Coltorti in the Italian version; Norman Nawroski in the English version. “Makwan: a Letter from Paradise” opposes the death sentence and its terrible significance (which embodies hatred and revenge) with a respect for life; because murder constitutes, without exception, the greatest possible violation of human rights.

To read more about Makwan visit: http://scenews.blog.com/Makwan%20Moloudzadeh/

WARNING: GRAPHIC FILM

 برای عاطفه سهاله دختری 16 ساله که اعدام شد و زندگی مرا به دنبال خویش کشاند
آسیه امینی

پایین تر از دهان ابر

بالاتر از ابروی باد

تاب می خورد

پیراهنی سیاه

که طنابی به آسمانش گره می زند.

کف می زنند مردم و هورا می کشند:

” ماسورا…. ماسورا….!”

زوزه می کشد ماده گرک جوان

و نمایش تمام می شود.

Intrerview with Reza Hejazi’a brother (hours before Reza was executed):

Mino Hemati : Hello, my name is Mino Hemati, and I am calling from Rahai Zan TV. Is it possible for me to speak with the father or mother of Reza Hejazi concerning their son’s case?

Hossein Hejazi : My name is Hossaine. I am Reza’s older brother and am willing to speak with you. My mother and father are not emotionally ready to talk about the matter at this time.

Mino Hemati : I understand, thank you. You are the brother of Reza Hejazi the boy who was convicted of an underage crime and is now

sentenced to death. If you could, please tell us when and how you found out that Reza is going to be executed?

Hossein Hejazi : Reza was 13 when the incident happened. Seven or eight other people were also involved, Reza was not alone.  Even though the others had committed the stabbing, they were all able to afford expensive lawyers to free them, and my brother was the only one convicted. Now they call us a few hours before and inform us that tomorrow morning Reza will be executed. What can we possibly do in these next few hours? We have been calling all around, to his lawyer and people that we know that could possibly help us; we have nothing to offer but our own house that we can sell and give the money. My brother was just a child of 13 when he was convicted, and now that he is 18 they are going to execute him.

Mino Hemati  : So you are saying that your brother was 13 when he was convicted, and he has been imprisoned for the last 5 years?

Hossein Hejazi : I, my mother and my father are all witnesses of what they have done to my brother in prison. They beat him so much that he could not walk because the bottom of his feet was so badly bruised. Under the force that was used against him, my brother confessed to the crime that he had not really committed, so that they would stop torturing him. Now, five years later, they want to execute him and there is nothing we can do because we do not have the money.

Mino Hemati  : Mr. Hajazi, over the last 5 years has your brother Reza had any lawyers or anyone working on his case?  

 Hossein Hejazi :Yes we did have people working on his case, but a really good lawyer is very costly and our family could not afford it.

Mino Hemati  : I want to know if there has been any trial for Reza at all with any kind of lawyer that court provides for his defense.

BROTHER: Yes, there has been a trial, but Reza’s lawyer did not even speak on his behalf or defend him.

Mino Hemati : In case you weren’t informed, the execution of those who have committed crimes under the age of 18 is a direct violation of the international human rights laws and laws protecting children. Iran has signed the bill, but is still violating the law by condemning minors to the death penalty. At this time human rights activists have been notified and so have amnesty international and they are doing the best they can to prevent this illegal act of execution from taking place.

Hossein Hejazi : Please help us, Mrs. Hemati. In a few hours they are going to execute my brother. Even if he was involved in a crime when he was a child, instead of sentencing him to jail for 10 years, they have imprisoned him until he is old enough to be executed. What kind of inhumane law is this? What kind of government and society is this?

Mino Hemati  : You should feel certain that many human rights activists and organizations are working very hard on Reza’s case right now and are trying their best to save your brother’s life. Please give my regards to your mother and father; I know that they are very upset right now, because no parent wants to hear that their beloved son or daughter is sentenced to be executed, especially only a few hours before it is to happen.  I know this very difficult and heavy and I hope that this issue will be solved.

 Hossein Hejazi :My Last word is I asking Ayatollah Shahroodi to stay the execution, so we could seek the mercy of the victim’s family. Also there were many kids in that prison which their parents were crying for their lives. Thank you 

Mino Hemati  : Hello Mr. Mostafaee, I hope you are well. I want to interview you briefly regarding the case of Reza Hezaji. From various sources of news it has been made known that Reza Hezaji, the boy who at the age of 15 was convicted of a crime, is in danger of execution. Mr. Mostafaee, as Reza’s lawyer, do you feel that his sudden death sentence has been SOMETHING?

 

Mr. Mostafaee : Unfortunately, I was not informed of his sentence earlier, even though the court’s law mandates that the lawyer of the convicted must be notified at least 48 hours before the time of execution. Unfortunately his sentence was against the Iranian law, because none was informed in advance.

 

Mino Hemati  : How did you learn about Reza’s planned execution? Was his family notified and thus came in contact with you or did you learn from some other source?

 

Mr. Mostafaee : Earlier I spoke with Reza’s father and he informed me that this morning someone called from the prison where Reza was being held and told his family that at 4pm they would have to go for his hearing. When his family went to the hearing at 4pm, Reza was condemned to be executed the following morning.

 

Mino Hemati  : I know that there is not very much time left before he is to be executed, but have you been trying to protest it, and is there anything that can be done to prevent his execution?

 

Mr. Mostafaee : I am sorry to say that his sentence should have been informed to me much earlier and since I have taken up Reza’s case I have been in charge of all of the legal matters and all of the decisions of the court were expected to have been disclosed. Nobody would have guessed that the court would so quickly condemn someone under the age of 18 to death, and it has not left us enough time to perform the necessary and vital legal actions to prevent his execution.

 

Mino Hemati  : Mr, Mostafaee, I know that there is very little time. However, in the past human rights activists have done all that they can in short amounts of time and successfully saved lives. What can be done now, with so little time, in an attempt to prevent this sentence from being carried out so soon? Despite the international laws against using the death penalty on anyone under the age of 18, most of the people on death row were sentenced when they were underage. Can anything be done to prevent their executions? Please give us your opinion on the issue.

 To hear in Persian please click here:   مصاحبه مینوهمتی با آقای مصطفائی وکیل مدافع رضاحجازی

HUMAN RIGHST WATCH

Calling Iran’s execution on August 26, 2008 of juvenile offender Behnam Zare abhorrent, Human Rights Watch urged the Iranian judiciary to immediately commute the sentences of more than 130 other prisoners facing death for crimes committed while children.  

Zare is the sixth juvenile offender Iran has executed this year. No other country is known to have executed a juvenile offender in 2008. Since January 2005, Iran has executed at least 26 juvenile offenders. During the same period, only four other countries – Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Yemen, and Pakistan – are known to have executed any juvenile offenders, with a combined total of six such executions in the four countries.  
 
“Iran leads the world in executing juvenile offenders” said Clarisa Bencomo, researcher on children’s rights in the Middle East at Human Rights Watch. “Everywhere else, countries are moving to end this abhorrent practice, but in Iran the numbers of death sentences seem to be increasing.”  
 
Zare’s family and his lawyer, Mohammad Mostafaei, only learned of Zare’s execution after the fact, although Iranian law requires that

the lawyer be notified 48 hours before the execution. Zare’s family and lawyer had been trying to reach a settlement with the victim’s family at the time of the execution.  
 
Zare’s execution closely follows the execution of juvenile offender Seyyed Reza Hejazi at Isfahan Central Prison on August 19, 2008. Hejazi was 15 at the time of the crime, and repeatedly told authorities that he had not intended to kill the victim.  
 
As in the case of Zare, the authorities did not notify Hejazi’s lawyer, also Mohammad Mostafaei, 48 hours prior to the execution. Instead, Mostafaei learned of the pending execution from a journalist the night before. Prison authorities refused to allow Mostafaei to visit Hejazi the morning of the execution, and he eventually left after a prison official told him the execution had been stayed. Instead, prison officials executed Hejazi an hour later.  
 
“Killing people for crimes committed as children provides neither justice nor safety for Iranian society,” Bencomo said. “The Iranian authorities’ willingness to lie to lawyers and to deprive families of a last chance to see their loved ones only underscores the depravity of these executions.”  

چطور می توانیم لرزش بدن نحیف نوجوانی را ببینیم که وجودش سرشار از پشیمانی و ندامت است؟

محمد مصطفایی

چطور می توانیم نوجوانی را با قصد و نیت قبلی، اعدام کنیم در حالی که او با قصد و نیت قبلی کسی را نکشته است. چطور می توانیم با اینکه می دانیم می خواهیم کسی را به قتل برسانیم طناب دار را به گردن وی اندازیم و مجرمی را که ناخواسته این نام را با خود به یدک می کشد، بکشیم. چطور می توانیم لرزش بدن نحیف نوجوانی را ببینیم که وجودش سرشار از پشیمانی و ندامت است. چطور می توانیم کسی را که سالها در زندان در بدترین شرایط محبوس بوده است را دو بار مجازات کنیم یک بار  برای سلب آزادی و بار دیگر برای سلب حیات و ما چطور می توانیم ….. آیا پس از به دار آویختن این نوجوانان که بر حسب قضا و قدر مرتکب اشتباهی شده و دست تقدیر جان دیگری را گرفته، می توانیم آسوده بخوابیم؟ آیا می توانیم لرزشهای بدن نوجوان ایرانی را که ناخواسته مرتکب جرم شده است را در ذهن خود تجسم کنیم؟ آیا می توانیم جنازه آویزان وی را در بالای دار در ذهن خود مرور کنیم؟ و یا صدای خرخر جان دادنش را در گوش خود تکرار کنیم؟….

قبول می کنم که – بر اثر هر چیزی که شما بفرمایید یا اشتباه یا کودکی یا حماقت یا بی عقلی و یا… – عزیزی از عزیزان خانواده ای جان داده و روحش به ملکوت علی پیوسته

است ولی آیا اگر این نوجوانان درمانده را به دار آویزیم جان آن عزیز از دست رفته اعاده می گردد؟ آیا جامعه عاری از جرم و جنایت می شود؟ آیا مجرم تنبیه می گردد در حالی که با سلب حیاتش دیگر وجود خارجی نخواهد داشت؟ و آیا به آرامش خاطر می رسیم؟ هر چند تجربه ثابت کرده است که کسانی که قاتل عزیزشان را به دار می آویزند نه تنها به آرامش نمی رسند بلکه به مراتب به درد و استرسها و دغدغه هایشان افزوده می گردد.

کشور ما از معدود کشورهایی می باشد که اطفال زیر 18 سال را که مرتکب جرمی می شوند که مجازات آن سلب حیات است به مرگ محکوم می کند و حکم مرگ را چه در سن زیر 18و چه در بالای 18 سال اعمال و این مجازات را – گاهی اوقات در اسرع وقت –  اجرا می کند مجازاتی که در سال 1372 ازقوانین کشورمان با تصویب ماده 37 کنوانسیون حقوق کودک زدوده شد ولی به دلایل مختلف از جمله عدم آگاهی قضات به مفاد کنوانسیون و نظریه شورای محترم نگهبان در مورد غیر شرعی بودن این ماده در حکم قانون، همچنان جان نوجوانان را می گیرد.

چند سالی است که وکالت اطفالی که در هنگام ارتکاب جرم سنشان زیر 18 سال بوده را برای رضای خدا و بر حسب سوگندی که یاد کرده ام  به صورت رایگان و مجانی قبول نموده و در این راستا تمام سعی و توان خود را به کار برده ام تا این نوجوانان به پای چوبه دار نروند. در این راه عده ای از نوجوانان از لحاظ قضایی نور امیدی می یابند. عده ای مشمول عفو و بخشش اولیای دم قرار می گیرند و از مرگ و زندان رها می شوند و عده ای نیز، همچون امیر امرالهی، محمد فدایی، بهنام زارع و دهها نفر دیگر نه اقبالی در رسیدگی قضایی داشته و نه نور امیدی به بخشش اولیاء دم دارند.

 کافی است هر یک از ما به سراغ نوجوانان محکوم به مرگ رفته و با تک تک آنها رو به رو شویم از آنها بشنویم که چطور مرتکب جرم شده اند؟ آیا انگیزه خاصی برای ارتکاب جرم داشته اند؟ و همچنین از آمال و آرزوهایشان بشنویم. آنوقت است که حکم خواهیم داد به استحقاق ادامه زندگی آنها و اینکه راهی پیش رویشان بگذاریم که جبران مافات کنند و اثبات نمایند که عمدی در ارتکاب جرم نداشته و ناخواسته وارد ماجرایی شده اند که نتیجه آن داغدار شدن دو خانواده گردیده است.

در کشور ما سالانه تعدادی نوجوان که در سنین کودکی مرتکب جرم شده اند به دار آویخته       می شوند و بدون آنکه فرصتی برای زیستن داشته باشند دار فانی را وداع می گویند. در بسیاری از پرونده هایی که داشته ام  وقتی خبر اعدام قریب الوقوع نوجوانی در مطبوعات مطرح می گردد عده بسیاری از مردم خیر و نیکوکارکه هیچ نسبتی با محکوم به اعدام ندارند اعلام آمادگی می کنند که به هر نحو ممکن جان نوجوان در انتظار اعدام را نجات دهند در این بین هنرمندان، ورزشکاران و حتی سیاسیون پا پش گذاشته و از طرق مختلف سعی در رهایی نوجوان، از مرگ می نمایند و اگر نوجوانی به دار آویخته شود نه تنها دیگران خوشحال نمی شوند بلکه متاثر و متاسف می گردند و اگر ریاست محترم قوه قضاییه و یا هر مقام دیگری دستور توقف اجرای حکم را صادر کنند نفسی راحت کشیده و خدا را سپاس می گویند.

خبر به دار آویختن رضا حجازی در زندان اصفهان به همان اندازه ناراحت کننده بود که خبر توقف اجرای حکم بهمن سلیمیان که 12 سال از عمر خود را در بدترین شرایط گذراند و از بلاتکلیفی، خواسته است که هر چه زودتراعدام شود خوشحالمان کرد تمام این موارد نشانه هایی از نیاز جامعه به تغییر این رویه ناشایست و گام برداشتن به سوی روشی منطقی و معقولانه است. امروز در شرایط و وضعیتی از اجتماع قرار داریم که دستگاه قضایی و مقننه می بایست با دید باز به واقعیتهای مسلم جامعه بنگرد و زمینه شکوفایی و پیشرفت تمام کودکان و نوجوانان را فراهم کند حقوق آنان را در اولویت قرار دهد و خشونت را از سطح اجتماع بزداید. بدیهی است با سلب آزادی، شلاق و گرفتن جان کودکانی که در زمان ارتکاب جرم  کمتر از 18 سال سن داشته اند نمی توان به آرمان و اهداف سالم سازی محیط اجتماع  کمک کرد و حتی نمی توان آن را به عنوان مسکن مورد استفاده قرار داد چرا که به دار آویختن کودکان زیر 18 سال به هیچ عنوان نمی تواند درس عبرتی برای کودکان دیگر شود. آنها هنوز پا به اجتماع نگذارده و هیچ تجربه ای در چگونه زیستن کسب نکرده اند. امروز دستگاه قضایی و مقننه مکلف است نیازی که در جامعه احساس می شود فراهم کند و با درایت و تدبیر، جلوی اجرای احکام مرگ را علیه نوجوانان این مرز و بوم گرفته و با بازپروی، آنان را برای خدمت به هم نوعانشان به جامعه بازگردانند و مجازات مرگ را لااقل برای این عده از نوجوان و کسانی که قصد و نیت نتیجه مجرمانه را ندارند منتفی نمایند.

 کافی است مروری به قوانین کشورهای مختلف بیاندازیم و آماری از اعدامهای اطفال زیر 18 سال بگیریم آنوقت خواهیم دید که ایران رتبه اول را در اعدام اطفال زیر 18 سال کسب کرده و اکثر قریب به اتفاق کشورهای جهان مجازات اعدام را برای نوجوانان بی فایده و ناشایست دانسته و از قوانینشان برداشته اند.

در نهایت – اگر مروری به قران، کلام خدا و معجزه حضرت محمد (ص) بیاندازیم درخواهیم یافت که خداوند متعال در همه حال بخشنده و مهربان است حال چرا ما بخشنده و مهربان نباشیم؟ ما می توانیم خشونت را برداریم و مهربانی و بخشندگی را جایگزین آن کنیم و با مهربانی و عطوفت خودمان، به دیگران درس سالم زیستن را بیاموزانیم.

محمد مصطفایی وکیل تعدادی از نوجوانان درانتظار اعدام

  CLICKصدای بهنام زارع قبل از مرگ

PUBLIC AI Index: MDE 13/126/2008 26 August 2008

Further Information on 230/07 (MDE 13/109/2007, 31 August 2007) and follow-up (MDE 13/032/2008, 05 February 2008 and MDE 13/044/2008, 06 March 2008) - Fear of imminent execution

IRAN Behnam Zare’ (m), juvenile offender

On 26 August, Behnam Zare` was hanged in Adelabad prison, in the south-western city of Shiraz. Neither his parents nor his lawyer were notified prior to his execution being implemented, as required under Iranian law. Behnam Zare’ was convicted of a murder that took place on 21 April 2005. During an argument with a man named Mehrdad he swung a knife, wounding Mehrdad in the neck. Mehrdad later died in hospital. At the time of the murder Behnam Zare` was 15 years old.

Behnam Zare` was detained on 13 November 2005; Branch 5 of Fars Criminal Court sentenced him to qesas (retribution) for

premeditated murder. The case went to appeal before the Supreme Court where the sentence was upheld. The verdict was then passed to the Office for Implementation of Sentences. On 5 February 2008, the order for the implementation of his sentence was approved by Ayatollah Shahroudi, the Head of the Judiciary. On or around 11 February 2008, the Head of the Judiciary ordered a second attempt to negotiate payment of diyeh (“blood money”) with the family of Mehrdad.

This year, according to information available to Amnesty International, Iran has executed at least 227 people, including six juvenile offenders. Since 1990 Iran has executed at least 37 juvenile offenders, eight of them in 2007. No other country is known to have executed a juvenile offender in 2008.

The situation of juvenile offenders facing execution in Iran has reached a crisis level, with at least 132 juvenile offenders known to be on death row, although the true number could be much higher.

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.

Many thanks to all who sent appeals. No further action is required from the UA network.
(See attached file: 51312608.rtf)(See attached file: 51312608.txt)