Iran Human Rights

UPDATE on Unofficial Reports of a Juvenile Execution in Iran

Iran Human Rights — 2013-01-23T09:25:33Z

Iran Human Rights, 24. January: On January 16 Iran Human Rights (IHR) reported on the execution of two prisoners in Rajai Shahr Prison, Karaj (west of Tehran). The report quoted an unofficial source that stated one of the people executed was a "juvenile offender", identified as Ali (Kianoosh) Naderi.

IHR investigated this case and has concluded that Mr. Naderi was born on 26 October, 1990. According to official reports, the alleged offence that Mr. Naderi was charged with took place on 12 November, 2008.

Mr. Naderi was reportedly 18 years and 16 days at the time of committing the alleged offence, therefore he is not considered to be a juvenile offender.

IHR regards execution as a barbaric punishment and condemns the Iranian authorities for practicing medieval punishments and promoting violence and brutality in society.

Six Prisoners Executed In Iran Today: A Juvenile Offender Suspected Among Those Executed

Iran Human Rights — 2013-01-16T13:18:32Z

Iran Human Rights, January 16: Six prisoners were hanged in three different Iranian prisons, reported the official Iranian media today.

Two prisoners (one possible juvenile offender) were executed in Karaj (west of Tehran):

Two of the prisoners were hanged in Rajai Shahr prison in Karaj (west of Tehran). According to the state run Iranian news agency, Mehr, one of the prisoners was a "young boy" convicted of murdering an elderly woman in 2008. The other prisoner was a "young man" convicted of murdering a man in 2007, said the report. The ages and names of the prisoners were not mentioned in the report.

According to the website of "Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran" (HRDAI), the boy, who was convicted of murdering the elderly woman was Kianoosh Naderi. He was born in 1991. He was a minor at the time of committing the alleged offence, said the group. Iran Human Rights (IHR) is investigating this case further.

Two prisoners executed in northeastern Iran: One of them hanged in public

According to the state run Iranian news agency, Aftab, two prisoners were hanged in the northeastern province of Khorasan early morning, January 16. According to the report, one of the prisoners was hanged publicly in the town of Sabzevar while the other prisoner was hanged in Mashhad Prison. Both of the prisoners were convicted of rape. Their ages and names were not mentioned in the report.

Two prisoners hanged in Semnan Prison (northern Iran):

According to the official site of the Iranian judiciary in Semnan, two prisoners were hanged in Semnan Prison early this morning. The prisoners were identified as "M. Sh", convicted of trafficking 6,732 grams of crack, and "M. F", convicted of trafficking 1,739 grams of crack and 30,80 grams of "shishe" (glass), said the report.

At least 8 prisoners executed in Iran, one day after EU expressed concern about the alarming number of the executions- At least 78 executions in May 2012

Iran Human Rights — 2012-05-31T22:33:01Z

Iran Human Rights, May 31: At least eight prisoners were executed in two different prisons in Iran today and yesterday, according to unofficial reports from Iran.

These executions took place only one day after the European Union expressed concern about what they call "the alarming increase in the use of death penalty."

Eight prisoners were executed in northwestern Iran:

According to the Kurdish "Mukrian News Agency", seven prisoners were hanged in Orumiyeh prison (northwestern Iran). The report, quoting Masoud Shamsnejad (the lawyer of one of the executed), said that all the prisoners were convicted of drug-related charges. The prisoners were identified as: Allahvordi A., Sayyad A., Safar P., Haji P., Khosro D., Nahad N., Omran G., and Abdolmajid M.

At least one prisoner was executed in Tehran today:

According to the "Human rights and Democracy Activists in Iran" (HRDAI) website, several prisoners were hanged in Tehran's Evin prison this morning. One of the prisoners was identified as "Koroush Zarini". According to the report, Zarini was involved in an uprising and clashes that occurred two years ago between guards and prisoners in Ghezel Hesar prison. More than 40 prisoners were killed in the clashes.

According to the official and unofficial reports from Iran, at least 78 prisoners have been executed in May 2012 in Iran.

According to Reuters, the EU criticized Iran on Wednesday for an “alarming” increase in the use of the death penalty this year, calling on Tehran to introduce a moratorium on executions.

“According to the latest data, compiled from a number of sources, the rate of executions in Iran during the first 5 months of 2012 confirmed the country as one of the world's leading users of the death penalty,” said a spokesman for the EU's foreign policy chief.

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton is “deeply concerned by the alarming increase,” said the spokesperson.

UN Special Rapporteur: Kurdish death row prisoners Zanyar and Loghman Moradi were tortured and threatened with rape

Iran Human Rights — 2012-03-16T07:06:35Z

Iran Human Rights, March 14: On Monday March 12. the UN Special Rapporteur Mr. Ahmad Shaheed presented his report on the situation of the human rights in Iran to the Human Rights Council of the United Nations in Geneva.

Iran Human Rights (IHR) welcomes the report presented by the Special Rapporteur. Commenting the report, the spokesperson of IHR Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam said: "This is an important and comprehensive report that documents very well some of the serious human rights violations in Iran". He added:"Since the Special Rapporteur hasn't been allowed by the Iranian authorities to travel to Iran, it is understandable that the report doesn't contain more cases regarding the human rights violations in the country". The spokesperson of IHR hoped that the Special Rapporteur's mandate will be extended for a longer period of time".

Presentation of the report:

In a statement which was delivered for his presentation to the Human Rights Council Mr. Shaheed gave more details about some cases that were just named in the report. One such case was that of the Kurdish death row prisoners Zanyar and Loghman Moradi. Mr. Shaheed said: "..several sources maintained that Zanyar and Loghman Moradi, who were arrested in 2009 on charges of murdering the son of an Imam, were detained for the first nine months of their detention without charges. These witnesses reported that Zanyar and Loghman Moradi were later compelled to confess to allegations of murder after being severely beaten and threatened with rape. The witnesses stated that no evidence or witnesses were brought against these men, and that they did not have reasonable access to their legal counsel. Both men were sentenced to public hanging on 22 December 2010 by Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court".

UN's Special Rapporteur Mr. Shaheed also mentioned Abdolfattah Soltani and Narges Mohammadi, both human rights lawyer who have been sentenced to prison. Mr. Shaheed said: "It is also frequently reported that those who attempt to defend the accused are also met with severe punitive measures. The Nuremberg prize for human rights winner and lawyer, Abdolfattah Soltani, for example, was arrested on charges of “propaganda against the regime”; “co-founding the Defenders of Human Rights Center”; “assembly and collusion against the regime”; “accepting an illegal prize” and “illegal earnings” stemming from the prize. Mr. Soltani was sentenced to 18 years in prison and banned from practicing law for 20 years. Similarly, Ms Nargis Mohammadi, a human rights defender and Vice President of the Defenders of Human Rights Center, founded by Nobel Laureate Shirin Ebadi, was recently sentenced to 6 years in prison by Branch 26 of Tehran's Revolutionary Court.


UN Special Rapporteur's report on Iran

ANNUAL REPORT ON THE DEATH PENALTY IN IRAN- AT LEAST 676 EXECUTIONS IN 2011

Iran Human Rights — 2012-03-04T19:25:05Z

Iran Human Rights, March 1: As the Iranian authorities continue the crackdown of the dissidents and the civil society, Iran Human Rights (IHR) presents its annual report on the death penalty in 2011 in Iran. The report was presented in press conferences at the Italian Senate, Paris City Hall and University of Oslo las week.


Download the report

Introduction:

The execution wave that began after the June 2009 post-election protests in Iran is still going on with high frequency . According to the present report, the execution figure in 2011 was the highest reported since the beginning of 1990's.

Iranian authorities continue executing several hundred prisoners each year in the pretext of fighting drug-trafficking. Among those executed for drug trafficking in 2011 we find alone mothers of dependent children, who were subjected to unfair trials and executed and those whose families do not even afford to pay the expenses for their funeral.

What distinguishes the 2011 report from previous years is the dramatic increase in the number of public executions. The number of executions carried out publicly in 2011 in Iran is more than three times higher than the average in the previous years.

There is no indication that the Iranian authorities' execution machine will slow down in 2012. In the first two weeks of January 2012, an average of 3-4 people have been executed in Iran every day. By the end of January 2011, 11 executions have been carried out publicly.

At the same time, Iranian authorities are threatening to execute more people for other “crimes”. The Iranian Supreme Court has recently approved the death sentence of Iranian-born Canadian permanent resident Saeed Malekpour for running “obscene” websites. He is now at imminent danger of execution.

Iranian pastor Yousef Nadarkhani, who converted to Christianity at the age of 19 and who was sentenced to death for Apostasy in 2010, might also be in danger of execution. There is serious concern that approval of the new Islamic Penal Code (IPC) by the Guardian Council might lead to more death penalties for Apostasy.

Iran Human Rights is also concerned about reports indicating Kurdish political prisoners Zanyar and Loghman Moradi might be in danger of execution.

There are also indications that Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani- the 43-year-old mother of two whose stoning death sentence was stopped, thanks to a worldwide campaign- might be in danger of execution.

Recently, an Iranian judge has indicated that the stoning verdict for Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani can be converted to death by hanging.

Commenting on this report, Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, the spokesperson of IHR said: “There is little doubt that the Iranian authorities use the death penalty as a political mean. The dramatic increase in the number of executions shows that the Iranian regime is more than ever dependent on spreading fear to prolong its survival. Death penalty in general and public executions in particular- are the Iranian regime's most important instrument for creating fear in the society.” He added: “We urge the international community to put sustainable focus on the human rights violations and particularly on the death penalty in Iran, and take further steps to stop the Iranian regime's execution machine.”

The figures included in this report are mainly based on information announced by the Iranian authorities. However, some figures are based on reports from reliable unofficial sources. During the past two years IHR has concluded that the number of the executions not announced by the official Iranian sources is much higher than previously anticipated. A significant portion of the unofficial figures included in this report has been prepared thanks to the individuals in Iran who, despite all the risks, have contributed with invaluable information to make the report somehow closer to the reality. IHR must emphasize that the actual number of the executions in Iran is probably much higher than the figures included in its annual report.

Sources

The present report uses the Iranian authorities as its main source. 62% of the executions reported here are based on the news published by state-run media news agencies and newspapers and the statements made by high-ranking officials within the Iranian judiciary. Like last year, IHR has received reports on large numbers of executions that have not been announced by official Iranian sources. Many cases are directly communicated to IHR (though a direct witness, family member, lawyer, or key sources within the Judiciary) or reached us through other human rights organizations. The annual report only includes non-official cases which have been confirmed by at least two different independent sources.

Some facts:

• At least 676 people were executed according to IHR's annual report 2011

• 416 of the 676 executions (62%) were announced by the Iranian authorities

• 65 executions were carried out in public. This is the highest number of public executions in more than 10 years.

• At least 4 juvenile offenders were among those executed in Iran in 2011

• At least 15 women were executed in 2011. Executions of 13 of these women were not announced by the Iranian authorities

• 3 young men were executed convicted of sodomy

• One man was executed convicted of “apostasy”

• More than 80% of those executed were convicted of drug trafficking

• Only 9% of those officially executed for drug charges were fully identified

• IHR has received reports of secret or “un-announced” executions in more than 15 different Iranian prisons

• More than 70 additional executions reported to IHR, are not included in the annual report due to difficulties in confirming some of the details

2011: The highest number of annual executions in the past 11 years Sources: Amnesty International (AI) and Iran Human Rights (IHR):

• 2000: 165 (AI)

• 2001: 75 (AI)

• 2002: 316 (AI)

• 2003: 154 (AI)

• 2004: 108 (AI)

• 2005: 94 (AI)

• 2006: 177 (AI)

• 2007: 317 (AI)

• 2008: 350 (IHR), (346; AI)

• 2009: 402 (IHR), (388; AI)

• 2010: 546 (IHR) (adjusted to 646)*

• 2011: 676 (IHR) : Official: 416 non-official: 260

* 100 of the 140 executions in the province of South Khorasan (Birjand) that were confirmed by the Iranian officials have been added to the 2010 numbers

Drug trafficking:

As in previous years drug trafficking was the most frequently used charge against those who were executed in 2011 in Iran. 81 % of those executed in 2011 (71% of the official and 88% of the unofficail cases) in Iran were convicted of drug trafficking and sentenced to death by the revolutionary courts. The trials were conducted behind the closed doors and it is not known whether the prisoners had access to lawyer or not. Since more than 80% (91% of the official and 81% of the unofficial cases) of those executed for drug-related charges are not identified by last (family) name it is not possible to confirm the charges. In 2011, there was at least one person who was primarily arrested sentenced to death for participation in anti-regime protests, but was later executed convicted of drug trafficking (see Case 2, below). IHR can not rule out that there might be other similar cases among those executed for drug trafficking.

The figures presented in this report are in line with the report published by Amnesty International in December 2011 (Amnesty International report: Addicted to death).

IHR has received reports indicating that many of those executed convicted of drug trafficking have not been subjected to fair trials.

Case 1:Executed for drug trafficking:

Three women - Leila Hayati, Hourieh Sabahi and Roghieh Khalaji- and two men- Mostafa Ahmadi and Ghanbar Shojaei- were arrested in January 2009 and charged with keeping and trafficking of narcotic drugs. They had no access to lawyer during their interrogations and were tried and sentenced to death by Branch 2 of the Revolutionary Court in Hamedan, with no right to appeal. Laila Hayati was executed on September 28 while the four others were executed on October 8. None of the executions were announced by the official Iranian sources.

Hourieh Sabahi (35) was alone mother of five children, one of them being disabled, and Roghieh Khalaji (32) was alone mother of a 12-year-old son and a 10-year-old daughter when they were arrested. Hourieh's family didn't even have the money to pay for her funeral after her execution. These are only some examples among the several hundred who were executed for “drug trafficking”.

Case 2: Arrested after a protest demonstration but executed for drug trafficking

Execution for sodomy:

Six young men were executed in Ahvaz on September 5. The state run Iranian news agency ISNA reported that three of those executed were sentenced to death by the Ahvaz evolution court, convicted of "unlawful" acts and acts against Sharia, based on the articles 108 and 110 of the Iranian Islamic penal code.

Articles 108 and 110 of the Iranian Islamic Penal code are part of the chapter covering the punishment of "Hadd" for “sodomy”. Article 108 says: “sodomy” (or Lavat) is sexual intercourse between men”, and article 110 says:”Punishment for sodomy is killing; the Sharia judge decides on how to carry out the killing". The spokesperson of Iran Human Rights (IHR), Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, said:”(these) executions for sodomy might be among the rare cases were the Iranian authorities admit to having executed men convicted of homosexual acts". He added: "Iranian authorities normally present such cases as rape, but rape as not been mentioned in this case".

There have been some changes made in the new IPC recently approved by the Guardian Council. The term “homosexual” is presented as a charge in the new law for men who engage in same-sex relations. Previously it was only used for women.

***

Punishment for homosexuality is flogging or death under Iran's new Islamic Penal Code:

Article 233: the person who played an active role (in sodomy) will be flogged 100 times if the sex was consensual and he was not married, but the one who played a passive role will be sentenced to death regardless of his marriage status. If the active part is none Muslim and the passive part Muslim, both will be sentenced to death.

Articles 236-237: Homosexual acts (except for sodomy) will be punished with 31 -99 lashes (both for men and women)

Article 238: Homosexual relationship between women where there is contact between their sexual organs will be punished with 100 lashes

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Moharebeh:

Moharebeh (war against God) is a term commonly used by the Iranian authorities for those who are either involved in armed struggle against the authorities or have connections with such groups. Some of those who were convicted of Moharebeh through connection with the banned opposition groups are named below:

 Jafar Kazemi and Mohammad Ali Haj Aghaei: Both convicted of Moharebeh through connections with the banned organization Mojahedin-e-Khalgh ( MEK/MKO). They had allegedly visited their children who were staying at Camp Ashraf, participated in the post-election protest demonstrations and sent pictures and reports of the demonstrations to MKO sources outside the country. They were executed in Tehran's Evin prison on January 24.

 Hussein Khezri, convicted of Moharebeh through membership in the banned Kurdish organization PJAK. He was executed on January 15. in the prison of Urmia

 Farhad Tarom was executed for membership in the Kurdish Democratic Party on January 26. in the prison of Urmia

Apostasy:

The sentence of Apostasy in Sharia is death, but Apostasy is not explicitly mentioned in the new IPC. However, the new law makes it easier for judges to issue the death penalty for Apostasy because the new article 220 states: “If the present law is silent about any of the “hodoud” cases, the judge is referred to article 167 of the Constitution.” Article 167 of the Constitution states: "The Judge is bound to attempt to rule on each case, on the basis of the codified law. In case of the absence of any such law, he has to deliver his judgment on the basis of official Islamic sources and authentic fatwa.” The reference to article 167 was previously made in the Civil code but now it is also included in the Penal Law.

Executions of minor offenders:

Iran continued executions of juvenile offenders in 2011. At least four people were convicted of offences they had allegedly committed when they were under the age of 18. Two of them were under 18 years of age at the time they were executed. Two other juvenile offenders were executed in 2011 according to unofficial sources but IHR hasn't confirmed their age yet.

1. Alireza Molla-Soltani (17): Convicted of murder, Alireza Molla-Soltani was hanged publicly on September 21, 2011 when he was still 17 years old. Source: Iranian media

2. A. N. : Convicted of rape and murder in 2008 when he was 17 years old. Hanged publicly together with three others in Bandar Abbas on April 21. Source: Iranian media

3. H. B.: Involved in the same case as A.N., was 17 years old at the time committing the offence. Hanged publicly together with three others in Bandar Abbas on April 21. Source: Iranian media

4. Hamid Hashemi (16): Belonging to the Arab minority in Ahwaz, was according to Ahwaz news executed in the prison of Ahwaz together with five others allegedly because of participating in a protest. Source: Ahwaz news, Unofficial

5. Vahid M.: Executed for drug trafficking on September 18 according to the state run ISNA news agency. Full name: Vahid Moslemi, Afghan citizen who according to the rights group “Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran” (HRADI) was a juvenile when arrested (age not yet confirmed by IHR)

6. Mohammad N.: Executed together with Vahid M. and 20 other prisoners on September 18 (ISNA). Full name: Mohammad Nourozi, Afghan citizen and juvenile when he was arrested according to HRADI (age not yet confirmed by IHR).

***

Iran has ratified UN convention on the rights of the child which bans death penalty for the offences committed at under 18 years of age. But according to the IranianIslamic penal the minimum criminal age I 9 years for girls and 15 years for boys. In the new IPC that was recently ratified by the Guardian Council some changes have been made with regards to death penalty for juveniles. However, according to the article 90 of the new law a death sentence may still be applied for a juvenile who has reached “maturity”, if he or she has committed crimes that are considered to be "claims of God" and therefore have mandatory sentences (such as sodomy, rape, theft, fornication, apostasy and consumption of alcohol for the forth time).

***

Women:

Execution of only three of the (at least) 15 women who were executed in 2011 has been reported by the Iranian authorities. The other executions have been reported to us through reliable unofficial sources. This trend might indicate that the Iranian authorities do not announce execution of the women prisoners in order to avoid international attention since the international opinion seems to be more sensitive to execution of women.

1. Zahra Bahrami: Executed on January 28 in Tehran's Evin prison. Iranian-Dutch citizen. Charge: drug trafficking. Originally arrested in connection with anti-regime protests and sentenced to death for Moharebeh. (Source: Iranian state media)

2. NOT IDENTIFIED: Executed on February 28 in the prison of Urmia. Charge: drug trafficking (Source: HRANA)

3. NOT IDENTIFIED: Executed on February 28 in the prison of Urmia. Charge: drug trafficking (Source: HRANA)

4. Adiva Mirza Soleiman: Executed on March 14 in Tehran. Jewish. Charge: Unknown (Source: HRANA)

5. NOT IDENTIFIED: Executed on March 14 in Tehran. . Charge: Unknown (Source: HRANA)

6. NOT IDENTIFIED: Executed on May 24 in Vakilabad prison of Mashhad. Charge: drug trafficking(Source: ICHR)

7. NOT IDENTIFIED: Executed on May 24 in Vakilabad prison of Mashhad . Charge: drug trafficking (Source: ICHR)

8. NOT IDENTIFIED: Executed on May 24 in Vakilabad prison of Mashhad. Charge: drug trafficking (Source: ICHR)

9. Begam N.: Executed on July 20 in the prison of Rafsanjan. Charge: drug trafficking. (Source: ISNA, Iranian state media)

10. Leila Hayati: 29 year old, executed on September 28 in Hamedan. Charge: drug trafficking. (Source: IHR)

11. S. M. B.: Executed on October 3 in Rasht. Charge: Adultery, allegedly sentenced to death by stoning, but hanged. (Source: IHR, further details are being investigated)

12. Roghiyeh Khalaj: 32 year old, executed on October 5 in Hamedan. Charge: drug trafficking. (Source: IHR)

13. Horiyeh Sabahi: 35 year old, executed on October 5 in Hamedan. Charge: drug trafficking. (Source: IHR)

14. NOT IDENTIFIED: Executed on November 29 in the prison of Kermanshah. Charge: drug trafficking. (Source: Fars news agency, Iranian state media)

15. Nahid A.: Executed on December 24 in the prison of Urmia. Charge: drug trafficking. (Source: Mukrian news agency)

Public executions:

In 2011 Iranian authorities carried out a record number of at least 65 public executions. Six of these executions have not been reported by the Iranian authorities.

Most of those hanged publicly were convicted of Rape/sexual assaults (30 of 66), followed by murder ( 16 ), Moharebeh/armed robbery (10), drug trafficking (6) and kidnapping (1).In at least 2 of the public hangings, the execution was carried out by a civilian (as qesas, or retribution)

Geographical distribution of the public executions:

A child is watching a public execution in Iran in Khomeinishahr in October 2011. IHR has urged the international community and the United Nations to put a ban on the public executions.

Reports of secret/non-official executions

In 2011 IHR received a large number of reports about executions not reported by the Iranian authorities. Execution reports from more than 15 different prisons throughout Iran have been confirmed. IHR has received reports of more than 70 other executions that haven't been included in the present reports. These cases are in the process of being confirmed.

Some of the unofficial executions are not announced by official media, but the lawyers and family members of the prisoners were notified prior to the execution. In other cases, executions are categorized as “secret” since neither the lawyers or family members were informed before the execution took place.

IHR received reports in 2010 of 60-70 executions carried out in Birjand prison. Due to the lack of details surrounding their cases, those executions were not included in the annual report. However, In June 2011, Mohammad Bagher Bagheri, a provincial Justice Ministry official in the South Khorasan province, said 140 drug smugglers had been executed in the province in the past Iranian year (21 March 2010 to 20 March 2011; Mehr News agency, 25. June 2011). IHR has received credible reports about three episodes of executions in Birjand prison in the period from January 2011 to March 2011. Two of these episodes have been confirmed by Iran's Prosecutor General Mohseni Ejei (Fars news agency 31. January 2011; Siasat-e-rooz, 28. February 2011). Based on the available information IHR has included 100 of the 140 Birjand executions in the 2010 annual report (causing the annual number to increase from 546 to 646). Additionally, 40 of the executions are included in the 2011 annual report.

The primary sources for the other un-announced executions have been Iran Human Rights (IHR), Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran (HRDAI), International Campaign for the Human Rights (ICHR), Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), Mukrian news agency, Ahwaz news, RAHANA, Association for Defence of Azerbaijani Political Prisoners in Iran (ADAPP), Iran Human Rights Documentation center (iranhrdc) and the Boroumand Foundation.

IHR has only included the cases that have been confirmed by two independent sources, in its annual report.

For questions and comments write to mail@iranhr.net

Children watching public executions in Iran: Iran Human Rights urges the international community to act immediately

Iran Human Rights — 2011-10-12T20:41:03Z

Iran Human Rights, October 13: Following today's public execution of four young men in Khomeini shahr, the state run Fars news agencypublished more than 20 pictures showing the hangings and the spectators. In one of the pictures a small child is seen watching the executions.

The number of the public executions in Iran has been increasing dramatically during the past months. Iranian authorities announce the executions and broadcast them through the state media.

In a statement that was published today Iran Human Rights urged the United Nations to ban public executions. Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, the spokesperson of IHR, asked the international community to act immediately in order to stop these barbaric acts. He said: "Public executions are not only inhumane and degrading for those executed but also for those watching, including the children." He added: "We ask the UN to take serious steps in order to put an end to this inhumane and brutalizing punishment".

UN experts condemn public execution of juvenile and reiterate call for immediate halt on death penalty

Iran Human Rights — 2011-09-23T10:37:07Z

Iran Human Rights, September 23: International condemnation of the public hanging of 17-year old Alireza Molla Soltanithat took place on Wednesday (21 September) in Tehran, continues.

According to a statement by the UN Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights, four United Nations experts condemned the public execution by hanging of 17-year-old Alireza Molla Soltani, and the ongoing practice by the Iranian authorities, of executing people charged with drug-related offences.

The four UN experts are: Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, Christof Heyns; Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ahmed Shaheed; Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, Gabriela Knaul; Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, Juan Méndez

Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, the spokesperson for Iran Human Rights welcomed the statement and said: "We hope this statement is a first step in a sustainable international campaign to put an end to the death penalty and, in particular, the execution of minors in Iran and elsewhere." Amiry-Moghaddam added: "The UN must consider enforcing sanctions on governments that execute minors."

The statement says:

“We are outraged at the execution practice in Iran despite the international community's and our repeated calls for a moratorium,” said the experts recalling that three juveniles have been executed in public so far this year in the country, according to reliable information.

The UN Special Rapporteurs on Iran, on summary executions, on independence of the judiciary and on torture stressed that “any judgment imposing the death penalty upon juveniles below the age of 18, and their execution, are incompatible with Iran's international obligations.”

“There is an absolute ban on the death sentence against persons below the age of 18 at the time of commission of the offence under international human rights law”, they said referring to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which the Islamic Republic of Iran is a party.

In 2011 alone, over 200 people have been executed in Iran, the majority of whom were charged with drug-related offences. It is widely accepted that the death penalty is an extreme punishment, and exception to the right to life, and that it may only be imposed for the most serious crimes. “We, however, regret that execution is common practice for people charged with drug-related offences, which do not amount to the most serious crimes.”

In most cases brought to the Special Rapporteurs' attention, there have been concerns regarding fair trial safeguards and access to a lawyer and families. “We reiterate this clear message to the Government of Iran,” said the human rights experts, “to immediately implement a moratorium on the death penalty particularly in drug-related and juvenile cases.”

17-year-old Alireza was hanged in public in Karaj early this morning

Iran Human Rights — 2011-09-21T06:15:56Z

Iran Human Rights, September 21: 17-year-old Alireza Mollasoltaniwas publicly hanged in Karaj (west of Tehran) early this morning.

Alireza Mollasoltani was convicted of stabbing Ruhollah Dadashi, the Iranian champion of weightlifting.

The state-run Fars news agency reported that, before he was hanged from a crane, Alireza was crying loudly and asking for forgiveness while calling for his mother and some religious figures.

Several human rights organizations and the Norwegian government had called the scheduled execution "unlawful" and urged the Iranian authorities to stop the execution and respect the UN conventions that the Iranian government has ratified.

Iran has ratified the UN convention on the Rights of the Child, which bans the death penalty for offences committed by persons under the age of 18.

Alireza Mollasoltani was born in December 1993. He was still a minor at the time of the execution. After the execution, Ali Rezwanmanesh, the representative of the Judiciary present at the scene of execution, told news reporters that "Alireza was not a minor, according to Sharia, since in the Sharia the lunar calender in used and the years are shorter."

Iran Human Rights strongly condemns today's execution of 17-year-old Alireza.

Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, the spokesperson of Iran Human Rights said in a comment: "Alireza's execution is unlawful, according to international laws and the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and the head of the Judiciary Sadeq Larijani should be held responsible for today's execution and other unlawful executions that take place in Iran". He added: "The international community should not tolerate the execution of children in 2011."

URGENT: A MINOR IS SCHEDULED TO BE HANGED PUBLICALLY IN IRAN TOMORROW

Iran Human Rights — 2011-09-20T08:40:46Z

Iran Human Rights, September 10: A minor offender is scheduled to be hanged in public in Karaj (west of Tehran) early tomorrow morning September 21.

According to the Iranian state-run media, Alireza, 17, is convicted of murdering Rohollah Dadashi (Iranian weightlifting champion) on Pooneh Street in Karaj on July 16th. The public hanging is scheduled to take place at the murder site, reported the Iranian state-run television website Jame-Jam online.

Alireza Mollasoltani was born on December 24, 1993.

Iran Human Rights condemns the scheduled execution of Alireza Mollasoltani. Iran has ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which bans capital punishment for offences committed by persons less than 18 years of age.

Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, the spokesperson for IHR urged the international community to react immediately and stop the scheduled execution of Alireza Mollasoltani. He said, "The execution of a 17-year-old boy is a clear violation of the UN's Convention that Iranian authorities have ratified". He added, "The United Nations and the international community must demonstrate that these conventions are more than just formalities. The world must react now".

According to the official reports, at least two minor offendershave been executed in Iran in 2011.

22 PRISONERS (POSSIBLY TWO MINORS) WERE HANGED IN TEHRAN YESTERDAY MORNING

Iran Human Rights — 2011-09-19T14:33:02Z

Iran Human Rights, September 19: According to the Iranian government daily "Iran", 22 prisoners were hanged in the prisons of Evin (Tehran) and Rajaei Shahr (Karaj, west of Tehran) yesterday morning.

According to official Iranian sources at least 50 people are executed since the beginning of September. Iran Human Rights had previously warned about the scheduled wave of executions after the month of Ramedan.

Iran Human Rights (IHR) urges the international community to react to the execution wave in Iran. Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, the spokesperson of IHR strongly condemned yesterday's mass executions and asked the UN to intervene.

The human rights group "Iranian activists for human rights and democracy" (IAHD) has reported about transfer of 37 prisoners from the Ghezel hesar prison of Karaj to Evin and Rajaei Shahr prisons for execution. According to IAHD, two of those executed yesterday were minor offenders and identified as Vahid Moslemi and Mohammad Norouzi (both Afghan citizens and 17 years old when arrested).

According to this report several of those executed are Afghan citizens.

The executions that were confirmed by the official Iranian sources seem to include the same prisoners that were reported by IAHD. However, the number of the executions reported by the official sources is lower than IAHD reported.

According to the government newspaper Iran, the 22 prisoners who were executed yesterday are identified as:

Muhammad Kh. for selling 59 kilograms of opium, Muhammad N. for transfer of 480 grams of heroin into the prison (Minor?), Avaz P. for organizing a drug smuggling gang and keeping 683 kilograms of opium, Agha H. for membership in a drug trafficking gang and keeping drugs, Jan B. for transfer of 425 grams of heroin into the prison, Ali J. for transfer of 385 grams of crack inside the prison, Saadi S. for keeping 908 grams of crack and 7,5 grams of opium and 15 grams of burnt opium, Ismail M. for distribution of 150 kilograms of opium, selling 50 kg "drugs" and keeping 20 kg of opium, Hassan T. for transfer of 265 grams of heroin into the prison, Mehdi P. for keeping 67 kg crack and 36 kg opium, Muhammad A. participation in trafficking of 702 grams of concentrated heroin and transferring 50 grams of heroin inside the prison, Abbas A. for keeping 2 kg and 200 grams of heroin, Omid Kh. for selling 4 kg heroin, Vahid M. (minor?) for transfer of 307 grams of crack into the prison, Saeed M. for participation in the carrying one kilogram of concentrated heroin, Ali P. for transfer of 410 grams of concentrated heroin inside the prison, Sharam Sh. for transfer of 670 grams of concentrated heroin into the prison, Abdulmajid M. for transfer of 391 grams of concentrated heroin into the prison, Karim Gh. for selling 49 kg and 500 grams of opium, Majid F. for transfer of 346 grams of concentrated heroin into the prison, Ali N. for transfer of 420 grams of concentrated heroin into the prison, and Hatem M. for transfer of 290 grams of concentrated heroin into the prison.