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Iran Human Righst Voice                                                                                  فارسي

I am Salman Akbari, the son of Esfandiar, born in 1363 (1984) in a small village in Ardebil. Before being sent to prison, investigation and court, I had not seen a city, let alone the inside of a prison. Now, for a crime that I have not committed, I have been in Ardebil prison for the past seven years, since I was 17 years old, and I can not prove or scream out my innocence. I started from the children’s section, then was moved to the youth section and now I am in the adult section of the jail. As I was a naïve child from a remote village, I was not familiar with the cruelty of city life. I was not able to withstand the physical and psychological

SCE was informed that as many of 6 more Iranian Juveniles are facing execution. All 6 are being presented by attorney Mohammad Mostafaei. We are awaiting more information about them.

This can raise the number of children known to be facing execution in Iran to 141. You can view the list at: www.stopchildexecutions.com/scedata.aspx

Names of the 6 juveniles :

1- Saber Sharbati

2- Mohammad Rasouli

3- Vahid Latifi
We are not sure if this is the same Vahid (no last name) who is on the current SCE list of juveniles facing execution.

4- Mehdi Riyahi
We are not sure if this is the same Mehdi (no last name) who is on the current SCE list of juveniles facing execution.

5- Hossein Azad
We are not sure if this is the same Hossein (no last name) who is on the current SCE list of juveniles facing execution.

PUBLIC      AI Index: MDE 13/134/2008                    

11 September 2008

 UA 252/08            Death Penalty                                              

IRAN                   Bahman Salimian, now aged 27; juvenile offender

Juvenile offender Bahman Salimian is at imminent risk of being executed. He was sentenced to qesas (retribution) by Branch 33 of the Supreme Court for the murder of his grandmother, committed in 1996 when he was 15 years old. His execution had been scheduled to take place on 28 August 2008 in Esfahan prison, central Iran. The execution was halted by the judicial authorities on 25 August to allow for further reconciliation attempts in order to negotiate a pardon from the only relative who still insists that the execution is to go ahead.

Throughout his trial, Bahman Salimian repeatedly claimed that his 70 year-old grandmother had talked of

committing suicide so he killed her to minimise her suffering. On hearing Bahman Salimian’s unusual motive for the murder the trial judge ordered that Bahman Salimian be psychologically assessed. Experts concluded that he was suffering from a psychological disorder and, accordingly, the judge sentenced him to five years’ imprisonment and the payment of diyeh (financial compensation, also called ‘blood money’) to be paid by his parents. Some members of the grandmother’s family appealed the sentence and demanded the death sentence for Bahman Salimian’s crime and Branch 33 of the Supreme Court overturned the lower court’s verdict and he was sentenced to qesas.

On 25 August, the Head of the Judiciary of Esfahan province, Gholam Reza Ansari, announced that Bahman Salimian’s  execution was to be suspended as two of his uncles had pardoned him. Gholam Reza Ansari ordered the relevant officials to try as hard as possible to obtain the pardon of the remaining uncle, which would spare Bahman Salimian from execution. 

Bahman Salimian has spent the last 12 years in prison due to the disagreement within the victim’s family regarding his pardon or execution. Under the Iranian qesas law, if one member of the victim’s family refuses to pardon the accused and, the other family members have received the appropriate amount of diyeh, then the death sentence will be implemented.                                                                                                                

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Since 1990 Iran has executed at least 37 juvenile offenders, eight of them in 2007 and six so far in 2008.

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

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

For more information about executions of child offenders in Iran, please see: Iran: The last executioner of children (MDE 13/059/2007, June 2007), http://web.amnesty.org/library/index/engmde130592007

RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible, in Persian, Arabic, English or your own language:

- expressing concern that Bahman Salimian is at risk of execution for a crime committed when he was under 18;

- calling on the authorities to commute his death sentence;

- reminding the authorities that Iran is a state party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), which prohibit the use of the death penalty against people convicted of crimes committed when they were under 18.

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

COPIES TO:

Director, Human Rights Headquarters of Iran

His Excellency Mohammad Javad Larijani

Howzeh Riassat-e Ghoveh Ghazaiyeh (Office of the Head of the Judiciary)

Pasteur St, Vali Asr Ave., south of Serah-e Jomhouri, Tehran 1316814737, Iran

Fax:                        +98 21 3390 4986 (please keep trying)

Email:                    fsharafi@bia-judiciary.ir (In the subject line: FAO Mohammad Javad Larijani)

                                int_aff@judiciary.ir (In the subject line: FAO Mohammad Javad Larijani)

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 23 October 2008.

ISCANEWS

According to Iran’s ISCA News Agency , death sentence of 19 year old Hossein (last name not reported) was approved on by Branch 31 of Iran’s supreme court. Hossein was sentenced to death for allegedly killing 30 year old Ali by a fruit knife during a group street fight on November 9, 2006. Hoseein claims that his confession was obtained under pressure and was not guilty, although few witnesses in court have testified against him.

 فعالان حقوق بشر در ايران

به نام آفريدگار عدالت و آزادي

من سلمان اکبري ، فرزند اسفنديار متولد 1363 از روستاي کوچکي در بخش رضي اردبيل به نام پورلو ميباشم و تا زماني که به زندان و آگاهي و دادگاه اردبيل مرا بردند شهر را نديده بودم چه برسد زندان را ، ولي حالا به اتهام جرمي که مرتکب نشدم هفت سال است که از 17 سالگي در زندان اردبيل بدون اينکه بتوانم بي گناهيم را فرياد و اثبات کنم به سر مي برم و از بند اطفال شروع کرده و سپس بند جوانان و حال در بند بزرگسالان مي باشم . به خاطر اينکه يک بچه روستايي بودم از شرارتها ، ترفند ها و حيله هاي رايج درمحيط شهر بي اطلاع بودم . و نتوانستم در برابر ضرب و شتم ها و شکنجه هاي مامورين آگاهي اردبيل که مدتها من را در آنجا نگه داشتند و شکنجه روحي و رواني ميدادند و با سيم و کابل و شلاق ، تن و بدنم را از کف پا تا پشت گردنم سياه و کبود کرده بودند طاقت بياورم ، و آنقدر پي در پي به من القا کردند که قاتل تو هستي و بايد قبول کني و حتي در مواقعي که من را شکنجه نمي دادند ساير متهمين را جلوي چشم من لت و پار کرده و شکنجه ميدادند تا عاقب درمانده و عاجز نوشتم من قاتلم.

حال از 17 سالگي به 24 سالگي رسيدم ، پدرم را از درد زنداني بودنم از دست داده ام ، مادرم به همراه

دوخواهرم پس از مرگ پدر به سرپرستي پدرم درآمده ، سالهاست که کارهاي مزرعه امان با نهايت مشکل پيش ميرود و خانواده ام در نهايت عسر و هرج و بي بضاعتي به سر مي برند و هست و نيست و حتي مايحتاج خود را صرف حمايت از من نموده اند ، فقط به خاطر اينکه عدالت هنوز به محيط روستاي ما نرسيده و من به جرم آن در زندان دفن شده ام ، از تاريخ 27/5/1380 پس از طي مراحل بازجويي و شکنجه در آگاهي اردبيل از طريق دادگاه عمومي بخش رضي که فقط يک شعبه دارد به زندان مرکزي اردبيل منتقل شدم و بارها در دادگاه به اقارير تحت شکنجه خود در آگاهي اعتراض کرده و آنها را انکار نموده ام و بي گناهي خود را فرياد زدم ، ولي راه به جايي نبردم و دادگاه مربوطه پس از يکسال در شرايطي که در محيطي بومي اداره ميشود و تحت نفوذ تعدادي از ساکنين منطقه است مرا به قصاص محکوم کرد که اين حکم صادره در شعبه 21 ديوان عالي کشور تائيد گرديد و حکم جهت استيذان به رياست قوه قضائيه ارسال شد که خوشبختانه مورد نقض قرار گرفته و به شعبه 20 ديوان جهت پيگيري ارجاع شد که پس از آن از طريق اين شعبه سه مرحله پرونده فاقد ادله کافي و داراي نقض تحقيقات تشخيص داده شد ، که هر بار شعبه بدوي دادگاه بخش رضي بر حکم صادره توسط خود اصرار مي  ورزد و ديوان نيز بر مدعا و تشخيص خود تاکيد ميکند و در اين بين 7 سال از عمر من تلف شده و خانواده ام متلاشي شده و هر لحظه منتظر اعدام من به جرمي که مرتکب نشده ام هستند ، حال پس از هفت سال در نهايت بي کسي و تنهايي براي شنيدن صدايم توسط تمام انسانهاي با وجدان که به احياي حقوق بشر مي انديشند ، فرياد ميزنم که نياز به کمک شما دارم تا بيگناهي ام را اثبات کنم و به آغوش خانواده ام بازگردم ، قبل از اينکه ديرشود و بي صدا به يکي از جوخه هاي اجراي اعدام سپرده شوم ، اميد دارم که مدافعان حقوق بشر مرا در اين احقاق حق و مبارزه براي به دست آوردن عدالت و آزادي تنها نگذارند

به اميد فردا
ارادتمند ، سلمان اکبري
14/6/87 - زندان مرکزي اردبيل

Please also note Bahman’s last name has been corrected from Soleimanian to Salimian. European Union already had issued a demand using the inaccuate last name of Soleimanian that SCE used instead od Salimian: http://scenews.blog.com/3762514/

ISCA News

Iran’s ISCA News Agency reported that the scheduled execution of Bahman Salimian was temporarily delayed. Head of Isfahan Judiciary, Judge “Saari” announced that the delay was to allow the last attempts to obtain pardons by uncles of Bahman Salimian. They have been insisting on Bahman’s execution because he killed his grandmother when he was 15 years old. According to Bahman’s attorney, he suffered from psychological problems.

To view the urgent call that was issued by Stop Child Executions to save Bahman Salimian visit:

http://scenews.blog.com/3727588/

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)

محمد مصطفایی

هنوز در بهت و غم مرگ رضا حجازی بودم که خبر اعدام قریب الوقوع بهمن سلیمیان را شنیدم او 12 سال پیش در 15 سالگی و در حالی که فاقد رشد عقلانی و اراده بود مرتکب قتل مادر بزرگ خود شد. قبول دارم که قتل دیگری عملی نکوهیده و ناپسند است و قبول دارم که بازماندگان مقتول داغ بزرگی بر دلهایشان نقش بسته است ولی بهمن ناخواسته و بدون اراده مرتکب عملی شد که وقتی فهمید خواست خود را نیز بکشد ولی دست تقدیر چنین اجازه ای را به او نداد.

 در تمام دنیا وضعیت کیفری اطفالی که در هنگام جرم سنشان زیر 18 سال است با ایران متفاوت می باشد.

بهمن در سال 1375 یعنی 12 سال قبل مرتکب جرم شد او 12 سال در کابوس مرگ غوطه ور است. او قدیمی ترین پسری است که در سن 15 سالگی مرتکب جرم شده و از آن زمان در بازداشت به سر می برد و تنها 2 سال از این مدت را به دلیل آنکه دادگاه وی را به پنج سال حبس محکوم نموده بود آزاد شد ولی در آزادی نیز اسیر تخیلات خود بود که نکند روزی اعدامش کنند و حال آن روز در حال فرا رسیدن است.

امروز بهمن سلیمیان، محمد فدایی، بهنود شجاعی، بهنام زارع و تمام کسانی که در زمان کودکی مرتکب جرم شده و محکوم به اعدام شده اند نیار به حمایت و کمک ما دارند از تمام شما بزرگواران این استدعا را دارم تا با نوشتن نظرات خود و اعتراض به روند رسیدگی به اطفال زیر 18 سال و اعمال مجازات مرگ، آنان را نجات دهید.

شما می توانید نظرات خود را در مورد اعدام اطفال زیر 18 سال و نیز اعتراضاتتان بر این روند ناعادلانه را با ذکر مشخصات به ایمیل من به نشانی

mostafaeilawyer@gmail.com

 و یا در پست الکترونیکی وبلاگم به نشانی

www.mostafaei.blogfa.com

 ارسال نمایید. سعی خواهم نمود با جمع آوری یادداشتهای شما موضوع را به صورت گزارش درآورده و  از طریق رسانه ها به گوش مسئولین برسانم.