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PUBLIC AI Index: MDE 13/099/2008
25 July 2008
Further Information on UA 263/07
(MDE 13/116/2007, 16 October 2007) and follow-ups (MDE 13/146/2007, 11 December
2007; MDE 13/152/2007, 21 December 2007) - Death penalty/ Fear of imminent
execution/ Unfair trial concern
IRAN Ali Mahin
Torabi (m), aged about 21, juvenile offender
Following a review ordered by the
head of Iran's judiciary, Ali Mahin Torabi’s death sentence has been quashed and he will be
retried.
Ali Mahin Torabi was convicted of a
murder committed when he was 16 years old. He was detained on 3 February 2003
in connection with a playground fight which resulted in the fatal stabbing of a
schoolmate named Mazdak Khodadian.
At the time, Ali Mahin Torabi
repeatedly stated that he had not intended to stab Mazdak
Khodadian, and only realized that the latter was
injured when he heard shouting from children who had gathered around them. Ali Mahin Torabi was sentenced to qesas (retribution) on 8 February 2003.
Ali Mahin Torabi's lawyer has repeatedly drawn attention to the lack
of clarity and doubts surrounding the events leading to the death of Mazdak Khodadian, noting for
example that the coroner reported that the dead boy's injuries did not seem to
have been inflicted intentionally.
In December 2007, the head of Iran's judiciary,
Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi, ordered a review of the case. On 25 July, he
announced that he had quashed the verdict of qesas
(retribution). Ali Mahin
Torabi's case has been passed to the judiciary in Tehran
for retrial.
Many thanks to all who sent appeals. No further action is required at present.
Amnesty International will continue to monitor Ali Mahin
Torabi’s case, and will take further campaigning
action as necessary.
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