Javad Shojaee, a minor offender, was executed in Isfahan this morning, February 26

Iran Human Rights, February 26: According to the sources in Iran, Javad Shojaee (23) was executed this morning in Isfahan, for a murder he allegedly convicted when he was 16 years old. Although according to some reports he was 17 years old at that time.

The website of the Persian speaking Radio Farda, published an interview with the sister of Javad Shojaee, who confirmed Javad’s execution today. According to the report, the sister who met with Javad yesterday, said that Javad (and all the family) still hoped that Javad’s life could be saved.

The government newspaper htm#s819513" class='spip_out' rel='external'>Iran, reported the execution but didn’t mention Javad’s age.

The official Iranian news agency IRNA did not mentioned Javad’s execution, although IRNA reported that two other men were not executed in Isfahan today, as scheduled. They are identified as "Afshin H." and "Ali Gh." and were convicted of murder according to the report. Their execution was haulted right before implementation, after teh families of the offended agreed to accept the blood money.

Javad Shojaee is the first minor offender executed in Iran in 2008. In 2007, at least 8 minor offenders were executed in Iran.

Iran was the only country in 2007 which executed minors, despite having ratified UN’s convention of the children’s rights.

The Iranian daily newspapers Etemad and Etemad-e-melli reported the news of the execution of Javad.