URGENT ACTION APPEAL
14 September 2005
UA 239/05 Death penalty
IRAN: Hajar Vafi (f), aged 19
Hajar Vafi, from the town of Lahijan, in northern
Iran, has reportedly been sentenced to death for the
murder of her aunt. It is not clear whether there
will be an appeal, or whether the sentence will go
directly to the Supreme Court for ratification, after
which she could be executed at any time.
According to the Iranian daily Jomhouri-ye Eslami
of 12 September, Hajar Vafi, also known as
Katam, was sentenced to death (as qesas or
retribution) after Branch 102 of the Criminal Court
in Langaroud, near her home town, convicted her
of murdering her maternal aunt, 73-year-old
Fatemeh Pourhamzeh, in January or February
2005. Hajar Vafi, who is married with a two-year-
old child, reportedly confessed to killing her aunt,
by stabbing her to death. In her confession, the
young woman reportedly admitted that the reason
for the killing was a ''financial dispute'' with the
victim.
Amnesty International has recorded 58 executions
in Iran so far this year, although the true figure
may be much higher.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send
appeals to arrive as quickly as possible:
- urging the authorities to commute the death
sentence imposed on Hajar Vafi immediately;
- asking for details of her trial and any appeals, and
of her legal representation;
- acknowledging that governments have a
responsibility to bring to justice those suspected of
criminal offences, but stating your unconditional
opposition to the death penalty, as the ultimate
cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment and
violation of the right to life.
APPEALS TO: (It may be difficult to get
through to Iranian fax numbers, but please
keep trying)
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)
Email: [email protected]
Salutation: Your Excellency
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')
Salutation: Your Excellency
COPIES TO:
Speaker of Parliament:
Gholamali Haddad Adel
Majles-e Shoura-ye Eslami (Parliament)
Imam Khomeini Avenue,
Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Fax: 011 98 21 646 1746
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. Check with
the Colorado office between 9:00 am and 6:00
pm, Mountain Time, weekdays only, if sending
appeals after October 26, 2005.
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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