URGENT ACTION APPEAL
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19 November 2004
UA 315/04 Imminent execution
IRAN
Vahid (m), aged 16, and eight other juveniles
Vahid, aged 16, and at least eight other juveniles are
thought to have been sentenced to death by courts in
Tehran, Iran. All are reportedly at risk of imminent
execution.
The Iranian daily newspaper Shargh states that Vahid was
sentenced to death for the murder of his friend Mehdi, who
allegedly tried to sexually abuse him.
Further reports from within Iran indicate that eight other
juvenile offenders are at risk of execution, although their
names are not publicly known. Three youths, sentenced to
death for murders committed at the ages of 15 and 16, will
reportedly be executed when they reach the age of 18. Five
further juveniles, also unnamed, who are held in a
'Correctional Facility' in Tehran (the ''Association for
Reform and Education'') are said to be waiting to hear if
their death sentences are to be upheld by the Supreme
Court.
Very few details of death sentences imposed within Iran are
available. Death sentences are required to be upheld by the
Supreme Court before executions can take place.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
At least 10 executions of child offenders in Iran have been
reported since 1990.
Atefeh Rajabi, a 16-year-old girl, was reportedly publicly
hanged on a street in the city centre of Neka, in the
northern Iranian province of Mazandaran, for ''acts
incompatible with chastity'' (amal-e manafe-ye 'ofat), on
15 August 2004. She was reportedly mentally ill both at the
time of her crime and during her trial proceedings. During
her trial, some three months before her execution, the judge
had reportedly severely criticized her dress, harshly
reprimanding her. Her death sentence was later upheld by
the Supreme Court. According to Peyk-e Iran newspaper,
the court judge who issued the original sentence was the
person who put the noose around her head as she went to
the gallows. For further information, see 'Iran: Amnesty
International outraged at reported execution of a 16 year
old girl'
(http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGMDE13036200
4?open&of=ENG-IRN).
A draft bill to raise the minimum age of executions to 18 is
reportedly under consideration in Iran, although details of
its legislative status are as yet unclear.
Amnesty International opposes the death penalty as the
ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment, in
violation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and
the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
(ICCPR), to which Iran is a state party. Article 6 of the
ICCPR states: ''Sentence of death shall not be imposed for
crimes committed by persons below eighteen years of age''
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to
arrive as quickly as possible:
- stating that Amnesty International recognizes the rights
and responsibilities of governments to bring to justice those
suspected of criminal offences, but strongly opposes the
death penalty as the ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading
punishment;
- urging that the death sentence imposed on Vahid and
others at risk of imminent execution be commuted
immediately;
- seeking trial details of the case against Vahid and others
at risk of imminent execution, including details of any
appeals against their convictions;
- urging the authorities to ensure that the victim's family
are made aware of its right, under Islamic law, to pardon
the condemned;
- reminding the Iranian authorities of their commitment to
the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, in particular
Article 3: AEveryone has the right to life, liberty and
security of person.@
APPEALS TO:
Leader of the Islamic Republic
His Excellency Ayatollah Sayed 'Ali Khamenei
The Presidency
Palestine Avenue, Azerbaijan Intersection
Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Fax: 011 98 21 649 5880 (please mark 'For the
attention of the Office of His Excellency,
Ayatollah al Udhma Khamenei, Qom)
Email: [email protected] OR [email protected]
(on the subject line write: For the
attention of the Office of His Excellency,
Ayatollah al Udhma Khamenei, Qom)
Head of the Judiciary
His Excellency Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi
Ministry of Justice
Park-e Shahr
Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Email: [email protected] (mark 'Please forward
to HE Ayatollah Shahroudi')
President
His Excellency Hojjatoleslam val Moslemin Sayed
Mohammad Khatami
The Presidency
Palestine Avenue, Azerbaijan Intersection
Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
E-mail: [email protected] (please resend your message if it
does not get through the first time)
Salutation: Your Excellency
Iran does not presently have an embassy in this country.
Instead, please send copies to:
Iranian Interests Section
2209 Wisconsin Ave NW
Washington DC 20007
Phone: 202 965 4990
Fax: 202 965 1073
Please send appeals immediately.
Amnesty International is a worldwide grassroots
movement that promotes and defends human
rights.
This Urgent Action may be reposted if kept
intact, including contact information and stop
action date (if applicable). Thank you for your
help with this appeal.
Urgent Action Network
Amnesty International USA
PO Box 1270
Nederland CO 80466-1270
Email: [email protected]
http://www.amnestyusa.org/urgent/
Phone: 303 258 1170
Fax: 303 258 7881
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END OF URGENT ACTION APPEAL
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