نوجوانان را اعدام نکنید SCE News and Updates archives

Mohammad Latif spent over three years in jail for a crime he says he committed in self defence. Mohammad said that he accidentally killed 18-year-old Mansour while trying to take away the attackers knife. After mediation between families, Mansour’s family decided to give pardon to Mohammad and have him released from jail.

Mohammad said it feels like he has started a new life. He is having to readjust to “normal” life after having spent three years in prison. He acquired problems with mobility of his legs and his eyesight has deteriorated considerably while in prison. He says he has not quite adjusted to the hustle bustle of everyday life and does not have much tolerance for loud noises, busy streets and crowds. He says that hopefully these things will subside in the near future.

He said that he cannot express how happy he is to be free and how thankful he is to Nazanin and all those who helped him in the process leading up to his freedom. His mother took the opportunity to express her gratitude and said that she is continuously praying for all the wonderful people who helped her son.

Shortly after release of Mohammad, his brother, on behalf of the family sent letters to thank Nazanin Afshin-Jam, David Etebari, attorney Mostafaei, all the Stop Child Execution Campaign volunteers and everyone who helped saved Mohammad from execution: http://scenews.blog.com/2786709/

با سلام وادب خدمت سرکار خانم نازنین افشین جم

 امید واریم همچون ستاره ایی فروزان دراین  شبهای  ظلمت  راه گشای در ماندگان بمانید وهمه از درخششتان بهره مند گردند

با تشکر فراوان
محمد رضا لطیف

Yesterday Stop Child Executions Campaign reported the freedom of Mohammad Latif who was sentenced to death at the age of 14 for killing Mansour Kahyaee during a fight.

In a letter Masoumeh Ebtekar, a member of Tehran’s city council who helped mediate the release of Mohammad Latif, wrote that the parents of the victim (Hossein and Farideh Kahyaee) chose “not to ghisas (revenge) the death of their son in order to reduce hostility among youth, so that this would be a message of hope to reduce violence in the society“

Nazanin Afshin-Jam and SCE Campaign greatly appreciate the kind and humantarian gesture by the Kahyaee family and we also hope that the authorities of the government of Iran would immediately halt the execution order of more than 100 other Iranian youth awaiting executions and instead focus on education and rehabilitaion of those children who may have committed a crime before the age of 18.

Other key person who helped with the mediation was Seyed Mohammad Mojabi, another member of Tehran city council. SCE campaign thank the two city council members, Ms. Ebtekar and Mojabi for their humanitarian mediation efforts which resulted in saving the life of Mohammad Latif despite the execution order by Iran’s superior court.

Mohammad Latif, a minor on death row, was freed yesterday from Saveh prison in Iran. After substantial efforts by his attorney Mohammad Mostafaei, and the efforts of human rights advocates, the family of the victim agreed to pardon him.

In August of 2007, Nazanin Afshin-Jam received an email from Mohammad’s father, asking for help to “bring worldwide attention to the injustice faced by his son” who was sentenced to death at age 14 for defending himself from an 18-year-old boy named Mansour Kayaee.  Nazanin Afshin-Jam immediately called Mohammad’s father and also contacted Mostafaei and asked him to defend Mohammad. Subsequently Mr. Mostafaei spoke with Mr. Latif and later visited Mohammad in jail and took the case.

In his letter, Mr. Latif had explained that his son was 14 years 11 month and 23 days old when he was attacked by Mansour and accidentally killed him while trying to take away his knife. Now at age 17 years and 9 months, Mr. Latif was concerned that his son could be executed in 3 months for his 18^th birthday. Mr. Latif had previously written to the head of Judiciary Ayatollah Shahroudi, the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and the head of the Iranian Parliament asking for help, however his letters were not replied.  Mr. Latif said that even according to Iran’s Islamic Sharia, Mohammad was not seen as an adult before the law. The legal age of maturity for boys is 15 years of age. Official documents signed by the Ministry of Health had also confirmed that Mohammad was mentally not considered mature at the time of incident. Mr. Latif had acquired written confirmation from Ayatollahs Behjat and Makarem Shirazi, that if there was any doubt about the maturity of the accused, they could not carry out the execution. This written confirmation was moot after a separate medical examination was conducted one year later assessing Mohammad an adult because the hair on his body confirmed he was past the age of puberty!Upon learning the news, SCE immediately informed other governments and human rights organizations such as Amnesty International and the International Committee Against Executions (ICAE).

In October 2007, after ICAE had contacted the Swedish Government, a few Members of Parliament sent a letter to Supreme Leader of the Islamic regime, Ayatollah Khamenei and Iran’s Embassy in Sweden expressing their concern about the imminent execution of Mohammad Latif. In December 2007, SCE was notified that Mohammad’s execution was approved by the Supreme Court and was sent to Ayatollah Shahroudi for final approval. A chain effect ensued whereby SCE immediately issued an international urgent call. ICAE contacted the Swedish Foreign Ministry who notified the Swedish embassy in Teheran who then officially expressed their concern to Iran’s Foreign Ministry. Soon thereafter, the EU President issued a statement expressing his deep concern on behalf of the entire European Union.

Faced with international pressure, Ayatollah Shahroudi sent the file back for mediation between the families of the victim and Mohammad where he was ultimately pardoned. According to Iran’s Sharia Ghisas law, it is up to the victim’s family to decide the final fate of the person who is sentenced to death for murder.

When Mohammad Latif was released from prison he went to the cemetery and cried on Mansour’s grave asking for forgiveness. After 3 years in prison and facing execution, the 18-year-old Mohammad said that the victim never left his mind. Although he was in a state of shock when he was released he said, “I never intended to kill him and that is why I felt like I will not be executed. When asked about his opinion of the legal process of his file, he replied: “I was not happy with it. The death sentence was unjust”.

” I would like to continue with my schooling. While in prison, I improved my studies through distance education” Mohammad Latif Added.

Nazanin Afshin-Jam and Stop Child Executions thank Mr. Mohammad Mostafaei for representing Mohammad Latif, Ms. Masoumeh Ebtekar for mediations, International Committee Against Executions for contacting European authorities, Swedish parliament members, foreign ministry and embassy, 42 European countries represented by its president, his Excellency Mr. Jose Manuel Barroso, human rights advocates inside and outside Iran and all the volunteers and supporters of Stop Child Executions Campaign for saving the life of another juvenile on the executions row.

To help save the life of more than 100 other children facing execution visit www.stopchildexecutions.com .

پس از آزادي از زندان بر سر مزار مقتول رفتم

اعتماد ملي: <محمد لطيف> پسر جواني كه در سن 14 سالگي مرتكب قتل شده بود، غروب نخستين روز اسفندماه سال جاري از حبس آزاد شد.

محمد پيش از اين از سوي قضات به حبس محكوم شده بود اما در نهايت با اعلا‌م رضايت اولياي دم پرونده او از قصاص و در پي آن از حبس 3 ساله نيز آزاد شد.

خانواده <محمد> كه اين روزها پس از گذشت 3 سال دوري از فرزندشان بار ديگر او را در خانه دارند درباره اعلا‌م رضايت اولياي دم و رهايي فرزند خود از قصاص مي‌گويند: <محمد در نخستين روز اسفندماه از حبس رها شد. اولياي دم در حق ما لطف بسياري كردند. كار آنها بسيار شجاعانه بود. ما مي‌دانيم براي هر انساني اين كار سخت است؛ انساني كه با وجود از دست دادن فرزندش، جوان ديگري را ببخشد، اما آنها بزرگواري كردند. تقدير الهي بود كه فرزند ما به زندگي بازگردانده شود. ما اميدواريم همه خانواده‌هايي كه مانند ما به اين شكل گرفتار هستند، آنها هم همانند ما با بزرگ‌منشي و شجاعت اولياي دم پرونده‌هايشان روبه‌رو شوند.>

خانواده محمد ادامه مي‌دهند: <فرزند ما قصد قتل نداشت. او با انگيزه با آن مرحوم درگير نشده بود. از آن گذشته او واقعا در آن سن به رشد عقلا‌ني نرسيده بود. هرچند دادگاه اين امر را كه حتي وكيل‌مدافع محمد هم بارها مطرح كرده بود نپذيرفت، اما در هر صورت خداوند با ما بود و محمد را به ما بازگرداند.>

حرف‌هاي محمد هم مانند خانواده‌اش بيشتر بر پايه تشكر و قدرداني از اولياي دم است. اميد به زندگي، ادامه تحصيل و پشيماني از آنچه به محمد و خانواده‌اش در طول اين 3 سال گذشت در لا‌به‌لا‌ي حرف‌هايش موج مي‌زند.

محمد، در طول اين 3 سال در كدام زندان‌ها بودي و اين روزها چطور گذشت؟

در طول اين 3 سال، 11 ماه در زندان اراك بودم و بقيه حبسم را در زندان ساوه گذراندم. روزهاي سختي بود اما در هر صورت گذشت. در طول همه اين سال‌ها حتي زماني كه حكم قصاص صادر

شد دلم روشن بود كه اتفاق خاصي نمي‌افتد اما با اين حال مطمئنم كه لطف اولياي دم به همه اين مسائل كمك كرد.

شنيديم به محض رها شدن از حبس بر سر مزار مقتول پرونده‌ات رفتي، درست است؟

بله، به محض آزاد شدن از زندان بر سر مزار آن مرحوم رفتم. خيلي شوك‌زده بودم. باور نمي‌كردم كه بالا‌خره از زندان خارج شدم. از آنجا كه در اين سال‌ها ياد آن مرحوم يك لحظه‌ام مرا رها نكرد، به محض خارج شدن از زندان ساوه بر سر مزارش رفتم و از او هم حلا‌ليت خواستم.

باوجود اينكه بر سر مزار افراد زيادي بودند اما نتوانستم مانع گريه‌كردنم بشوم و چند دقيقه‌اي با آن مرحوم بر سر مزارش درددل كردم.

باوجود اينكه مدت‌زمان زيادي از صدور حكم قصاصت گذشته است و در اين روزها كه از حبس رها شدي، قصد يادآوري آن روزها را ندارم اما مي‌تواني از حال و روزت وقتي متوجه صدور حكم قصاص شدي، بگويي؟

وقتي حكم قصاص صادر شد، من متوجه شده بودم. وكيلم و خانواده‌ام در جريان صدور حكم قصاص بودند اما به من چيزي نمي‌گفتند. خانواده‌ام وقتي به ملا‌قاتم مي‌آمدند قصد داشتند مدام فكرم را به مسائل ديگري مشغول كنند كه از ماجرا باخبر نشوم اما در نهايت متوجه شدم ولي بازهم مطمئن بودم حكم اجرا نمي‌شود. دلم روشن بود كه بالا‌خره به نحوي اين حكم متوقف مي‌شود كه البته اين لطف از سوي اولياي دم به من شد. من ناخواسته مرتكب قتل شده بودم به همين خاطر مطمئن بودم كه قصاص نمي‌شوم.

وجدانم در تمام اين سال‌ها ناراحت بود. به هر حال در اين بين جواني از دست رفته بود و اين مساله براي هر انساني عذاب‌آور است.

از روند رسيدگي به پرونده‌ات راضي بودي؟

حقيقت ماجرا اين است كه نه، واقعا راضي نبودم. خيلي به ناحق حكم قصاص برايم صادر شد. مرا به خاطر سن كم به كميسيون پزشكي قانوني معرفي كرده بودند اما با وجود اينكه آنها هم رشد عقلا‌ني مرا رد كرده بودند و اعلا‌م كردند كه عدم بلوغ فكري وجود دارد اما دادگاه مرا به قصاص محكوم كرد. با اين حال از آنها هم سپاسگزارم.

از پرداختن مطبوعات به پرونده‌ات و كار وكيل‌مدافعت راضي هستي؟

بله، هم مطبوعات و هم وكيل‌مدافعم، محمد مصطفايي لطف زيادي به من كردند. اين مطبوعات بودند كه ماجراي مرا شرح دادند و به نظر كميسيون پزشكي قانوني و در نظر نگرفتن آن از سوي دادگاه اشاره كردند. از طريق مطبوعات بود كه آقاي مجابي، خانم ابتكار و ديگران با پرونده‌‌ام آشنا شدند و براي آزادي‌ام تلا‌ش كردند.

در حال حاضر اولين برنامه‌ات براي زندگي آينده‌ات چيست؟

مي‌خواهم درسم را ادامه بدهم. در زندان هم از طريق آموزش از راه دور اقدامات خوبي كردم اما اولين و مهم‌ترين هدفم در حال حاضر ادامه تحصيلم است.

Following the Urgent Calls about the imminent executions of Mohammad Latif, Ali Mahin-Torabi and Hossein Haghi, the president of European Union issued the following statement.

Nazanin Afshin-Jam and Stop Child Executions Campaign thank the European Union and its presidency for their immediate attention:

EU Presidency Statement on the Supreme Court’s decision concerning the death sentences on Mohammad Latif, Ali Mahin Torabi and Hossein Haghi 

Date:   2007-12-17 
 
The EU Presidency is deeply concerned about the decision by the Supreme Court concerning the death sentences on Mohammad Latif, Ali Mahin Torabi and Hossein Haghi.

The EU Presidency recalls Islamic Republic of Iran’s international commitments and obligations under the Convention on the Rights of the Child (Article 37) and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (Article 6, n.5).

The EU Presidency calls upon the Islamic Republic of Iran to review the sentences on Mohammad Latif, Ali Mahin Torabi and Hossein Haghi under Islamic Republic of Iran’s international commitments and obligations.

The EU Presidency calls on the Iranian authorities to approve by the due instances the new law on juvenile courts and to make sure that the waiver of the death sentences for minors and for crimes committed during childhood is clearly stated there.

The EU Presidency asks the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran to convey this message to the Majlis and the Guardians Council, as well as to the Judiciary.

The EU Presidency reiterates EU’s longstanding opposition to the death penalty in all circumstances and strongly condemns the application of capital punishment to minors.

http://www.eu2007.pt/UE/vEN/Noticias_Documentos/Declaracoes_PESC/20071217Irao.htm

Following SCE’s communication with International Committee Against Executions on the executions orders of Ali Mahin-Torabi, Mohammad Latif and Delara Darabi, they informed Nazanin Afshin-Jam that ICAE has contacted the Swedish Foreign Ministry who subsequently notified the Swedish embassy in Teheran.  

They will be following the 3 cases tomorrow via the Swedish EU-membership locally in Tehran and try to arrange a meeting with Iran’s foreign ministry to address their concern.

Earlier in October 2007, after prior contacts of ICAE with Swedish Parliament, few members of the Swedish Parliament sent an email to supreme leaders of Islamic regime, Ayatollah Khamenei and Iran’s Embassy in Sweden.

In their letter, they wrote: “

“….In regards to the recent report of The High Commissioner for Human Rights and the latest European Union declaration on human rights situation in Iran, we, as social democratic members of the Swedish parliament strongly condemn the brutal assault on human rights in Iran. ”.

“Ali Mahin Torabi has been convicted of a murder committed when he was 16 years old and is now at risk of imminent execution, though Iran is a state party to international treaties including the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), which expressly prohibit the execution of child offenders. “

They also demanded leader of Islamic regime to “ Stop all executions and abolish execution of children.”

They additionally asked him to immediately “ release all political prisoners, members of the student movement, the women movement, the workers movement and the social movements. We demand human, social, and political rights and recognition of the right to organize unions, political and social organizations. “

Nazanin Afshin-Jam and Stop Child Execution volunteers have been working many extra hours in the past few days communicating with different human rights organizations, governments, attorneys, parents as well as informing and posting in different website , volumes of bad news coming from Iran regarding child executions.

As reported by SCE campaign 2 weeks ago, in a recent interview one of the heads of Iran’s police stated that as many as 170 Iranian children will be facing execution soon: http://scenews.blog.com/2325039/

In the rush to execute the Iranian youth on the execution row, the file of Mohammad Latif was also sent to Ayatollah Shahrudi, Iran’s head of judiciary for final approval before execution.

In addition to violating international children rights conentions which prohibit execution for a crime committed before the age of 18, Iran has been executing boys who have been less than 15 years old. Iran’s own Islamic Sharia laws states that a boy is not considered an adult until the age of 15, Mohammad Latif was sentenced to death for an alleged murder at the age of 14. Makwan Moludzadeh was the recent example who was executed for for an alleged homosexual act at the age of 13.