Jan. 16
KYRGYZSTAN:
Kyrgyzstan extends death penalty moratorium for a year
Kyrgyzstan has extended its moratorium on the execution of death sentences
until December 31, 2005, the presidential press service said on Saturday.
A presidential decree that extends the moratorium also orders the
government to raise funds to improve imprisonment conditions for those
sentenced to death and prescribes drafting before June 30, 2005,
legislation to abolish the death penalty as part of the Human Rights
national program for 2002-2010.
President Askar Akayev says in his decree that his extension of the
moratorium is based on "principles of humanism and mercy."
(source: Interfax)
IRAN:
30 juveniles on death row in prisons in Iran capital
At least 30 juveniles are on death row in Tehran and Rajai-Shahr (40km
west of the Iranian capital) for offences they have been alleged to have
committed under the age of 18.
"There are some 30 juveniles under the age of 18 in Tehran's Centre for
Reform and Education (Juvenile Prison) and in Rajai-Shahr currently
sentenced to death", Fahimeh Hajmohammad-Ali, a lawyer working in Iran's
judiciary, said in an interview with a state-run news agency, ILNA.
Hajmohammad-Ali said that many of these juveniles were confused and nave
at the time of their offence, and should have a chance to be rehabilitated
into society.
"Juveniles forced to work in an isolated environment often get involved in
scuffles which sometime prove fatal", she said, adding, "Many of those on
death row in the capital suffer from such lifestyles".
Speaking out against Iran's "eye-for-an-eye" penal code, Hajmohammad-Ali
said that the law should be reviewed, especially in the case of young
children.
She also criticized authorities for their approach in tackling youth
delinquency as a whole.
Under Iranian law, girls above the age of nine and boys above the age of
15 are considered as adults and could be executed for capital offences.
Under increasing international pressure, the Iranian regime keeps children
on death row in juvenile detention centers until they turn 18.
(source: Iran Focus)
