[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----worldwide

[Rick Halperin]

Aug. 6



IRAN:

International Committee against Executions Urges Abolition of Death
Penalty in Iran


The International Committee against Executions which functions in Germany
and is presided by an Iranian human rights activist, Mina Ahadi, believes
there is a necessity to exert pressure upon the Islamic regime in Iran,
where courts make injustice decisions on the death penalty, according to
the appeal of the organization.

Ahadi reported to Trend from Berlin on 6 August that the appeal of the
organization says Iran should stop not only the current death penalty, but
to abolish execution completely. "We ask all international organizations
on human rights to become involved into the recent event in Iran and stop
the murder of people," the appeal says.

The appeal was sent to Amnesty International and other human rights
organizations in the world. According to Ahadi, the inmates personally
requested that she inform international human rights organizations of
their appeals and she has promised to do just that.

The number of executions has doubled in Iran compared to 2006. Iran is the
first place in the world where the juveniles are executed. Notably, two
Kurdish journalists were detained and recently sentenced to the death
penalty in the country. Journalists Adnan Hasanpur and Hiva Butimar were
detained in 2005 by Iran. The court of Marivan City (Iranian province of
Kurdistan) has recently accused the journalists of activities directed
against the national security of the country, transmitting secret military
information to the opposition and the armed struggle against the Iranian
authorities. The journalists attorney who was appointed by the
authorities, Mahammad Saleh Nikbakht, reported that the defendants had
pleaded guilty to the accusation of 140 pages, but said that the trial had
been held unfairly and the journalists could be executed. The attorney
noted that the accusation against Hasanpur involved his professional
activities.

(source: Trend News)