Nov. 30
IRAN:
In Iran, a total of 6 people have been sentenced to death over the past
week, including 2 child-offenders under the age of 18, as well as 2 young
females and 2 political prisoners.
These latest death sentences follow a string of public executions carried
out by the Iranian regime in recent days.
On November 12, Kaveh Habibi-Nejad, a 14-year-old schoolboy from Sanandaj
died after being flogged-to-death for "eating in public" during the holy
Islamic month of Ramadan.
The autopsy revealed that the boy died "as a result of brain hemorrhage,
after the back of his skull was fractured by a blow from a hard object."
The official report by the coroners office in Sanandaj, states that the
boy died "as a result of brain hemorrhage after the back of his skull was
fractured by a blow from a hard object."
Eye-witnesses had previously reported that Kaveh lost consciousness while
being flogged by agents of Law Enforcement Forces, Irans paramilitary
police force. They said they believed he died because "the metal cable
being used to flog him hit his head."
Flogging young teenagers in public for a range of offenses such as
drinking alcohol or eating in public during the fasting season of Ramadam
is common in Iranian cities.
Last Tuesday an un-named man was executed in the city of Isfahan, also
accused of murder. He was hanged in public in the early hours of the day
in Toughchi Square.
On the same day, a 20-year-old male, Payam Erfani-Nejad, died as the
result of beatings by Iranian Revolutionary Guards in the town of Salmas
(Western Iran). The Guards severely beat up Payam for "talking to a woman
in public", leaving him bleeding in the street. Payams relatives rushed
him to hospital where he died within 48 hours due to the severity of his
injuries.
Again on Tuesday, Aziz Rasouli, 64, was hanged in public opposite the
central mosque of Hadi-Shahr, northeastern Iran.
A prisoner identified only as Esmaeil K. from Isfahans central prison was
hanged last Saturday. The execution took place after it was upheld by the
Supreme Court.
2 child-offenders identified only by their 1st names, Wahid, 16, and
Mehdi, 17, have been sentenced to death. Wahid is accused of stabbing a
man to death, though he alleges that he was trying to defend himself from
being attacked.
The latest sentences bring the total number of child-offenders on death
row in Iran, to at least 10.
A 19-year-old man has been sentenced to death, after being convicted of
murder. The young man whose identity has not been announced was found
guilty of killing his father in the Iranian capital of Tehran.
An un-named teenage girl studying law in the northwestern Iranian city of
Mashad, is accused of killing a young man after a scuffle a few months
ago, was sentenced to death by a religious judge named Khayatzadeh.
A 24-year-old female identified only by her 1st name, Tayebe, has been
sentenced to death in the past few days.
Death sentences have also been reported for 2 political prisoners from
Tehran and Qazvin. One of them, Hojjat Zamani, is believed to be a member
of the main armed Iranian opposition group, The Peoples Mojahedin
Organization of Iran, and is accused of instigating public rebellion.
(source: Iran Focus, Nov. 22)
