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PUBLIC AI Index: MDE 13/007/2008
08 January 2008
UA 09/08 Death penalty
IRAN Behnoud (m), full name not
known, aged about 19, child offender
A young man called
Behnoud has been convicted of a murder committed before he was 18, and is now
believed to be in danger of execution.
Behnoud was convicted
of beating to death a 19-year-old man, known only as Ehsan, with a bottle
during a street fight in 2005. At the time of the murder, Behnoud was aged
about 17. To execute him would be a violation of international law.
Behnoud was sentenced
to qesas (retribution) by a court in Tehran, and his sentence was upheld
by the Supreme Court. According to the Iranian news agency Fars, Ehsan's family
are demanding that Behnoud be executed. However, the case has been referred to
conciliation in order to allow both families to negotiate the payment of diyeh
(blood money) in exchange for pardoning Behnoud.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
As a state party to
both the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the
Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), Iran has undertaken not to execute
child offenders, those convicted of crimes committed when they were under 18.
However, since 1990, Iran has executed at least 28 child offenders, six of them
in 2007. At least 79 child offenders are now on death row in Iran. This number
may be even higher as at least a further 15 Afghan child offenders have
reportedly been sentenced to death.
For more information
about executions of child offenders in Iran, please see: Iran: The last
executioner of children (MDE 13/059/2007, June 2007), http://web.amnesty.org/library/index/engmde130592007
RECOMMENDED
ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible, in Persian,
Arabic, English or your own language:
- expressing concern
that Behnoud is at risk of execution for a crime committed when he was under
18;
- calling on the
authorities to commute his death sentence;
- reminding them that
Iran is a state party to both the International Covenant on Civil and Political
Rights (ICCPR) and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), which
prohibits the use of the death penalty against those under the age of 18 at the
time of offence, and that the execution of Behnoud would therefore be a
violation of international law;
- urging the
authorities to pass legislation to abolish the death penalty for offences
committed by persons under the age of 18, so bringing Iran’s domestic law in
line with its obligations under international law;
- stating that
Amnesty International acknowledges the right and responsibility of governments
to bring to justice those suspected of criminal offences, but unconditionally
opposes the death penalty.
APPEALS TO:
Leader of the
Islamic Republic
His Excellency
Ayatollah Sayed ‘Ali Khamenei
The Office of the
Supreme Leader, Islamic Republic Street - Shahid Keshvar Doust Street
Tehran, Islamic
Republic of Iran
Email:
info@leader.ir
Salutation: Your
Excellency
Head of the
Judiciary
Ayatollah Mahmoud
Hashemi Shahroudi
Howzeh Riyasat-e
Qoveh Qazaiyeh / Office of the Head of the Judiciary
Pasteur St., Vali Asr
Ave., south of Serah-e Jomhouri, Tehran 1316814737, Islamic Republic of Iran
Email:
info@dadgostary-tehran.ir (In the subject line write: FAO Ayatollah Shahroudi)
Salutation: Your
Excellency
COPIES TO:
President
His Excellency
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
The Presidency,
Palestine Avenue, Azerbaijan Intersection, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Email:
dr-ahmadinejad@president.ir
via website:
www.president.ir/email
Director, Human
Rights Headquarters of Iran
His Excellency
Mohammad Javad Larijani
Howzeh Riassat-e
Ghoveh Ghazaiyeh
(Office of the Head
of the Judiciary)
Pasteur St.,
Vali Asr Ave., south
of Serah-e Jomhuri,
Tehran 1316814737
Fax: +98 21 3390
4986 (please keep trying)
Email:
fsharafi@bia-judiciary.ir (In the subject line: FAO Mohammad Javad Larijani)
int_aff@judiciary.ir
(In the subject line: FAO Mohammad Javad Larijani)
and to diplomatic
representatives of Iran accredited to your country.
PLEASE SEND APPEALS
IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat, or your section
office, if sending appeals after 20 February 2008.
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