www.stopchildexecutions.com

The young homosexual Makwan sentenced to death. Urgent Campaign

PRESS RELEASE
December 4, 2007

IRAN, YOUNG GAY MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH

EVERYONE GROUP: “WE ONLY HAVE A FEW HOURS TO SAVE MAKWAN’S LIFE”

THE SENTENCE FOR THE 21-YEAR-OLD HOMOSEXUAL WAS SUSPENDED TWO WEEKS AGO AFTER THE INTERNATIONAL “FLOWERS FOR LIFE IN IRAN” CAMPAIGN CARRIED OUT BY “EVERYONE”. THE CASE HOWEVER HAS BEEN RE-EXAMINED BY THE IRANIAN JUDGES AND THE SENTENCE CONFIRMED. THE EXECUTION HAS BEEN FIXED FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS. HIS FAMILY’S DESPERATE APPEAL: “SAVE OUR MAKWAN”

GRUPPO EVERYONE CALLS ON THE IMMEDIATE INTERVENTION OF THE ITALIAN GOVERNMENT AND THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, AS WELL AS ALL CIVILIZED SOCIETY, AND LAUNCHES THE CAMPAIGN “HEARTS FOR MAKWAN’S LIFE”

Makwan Moloudzadeh is 21-years-old (he was born on March 31st, 1986) and he was sentenced to death for the crime of “lavat” (sodomy) according to the Iranian Criminal Code that foresees the death penalty. According to the motivation adopted by the Iranian Government, the young man, at the age of 13 had sexual intercourse with another boy.
Makwan, who was the object of the international campaign “Flowers for live in Iran” initiated by Gruppo EveryOne (www,everyonegroup.com) – with hundreds of red and white roses being sent to President Ahmadinejad, and the mobilization of liberal and progressive Islam – had obtained on November 15th of this year, the suspension of the death sentence by the Iranian Head of Judiciary, Ayatollah Seyed Mahmoud Hashemi Shahrudi. The judge had defined the sentence – first issued last June 7th by the Criminal Court of Kermanshah, in West Iran and later confirmed on August 1st – “a violation of Islamic precepts and human ethics”
This evening, December 3rd Makwan’s family phoned Ahmad Rafat, a journalist of AKI – ADN Kronos International and member of the EveryOne Group, and gave the alarm: Makwan’s case has been re-examined by the Judiciary Authority of Teheran, and yesterday, Sunday December 2nd, the dramatic sentence reached Kermanshah prison, where the young man has been held for some time.
“There is a need for immediate international protest action from the Italian Goverment, the European Parliament and civilized society. We have to make Iran listen to our request for Marwan to be spared. Marwan is innocent, he has been sentenced to death for his homosexuality”. This is the appeal launched by Roberto Malini, Matteo Pegoraro and Dario Picciau, the leaders of the EveryOne Group, which recently fought this year to prevent the deportation from Great Britain of the Iranian lesbian Pegah Emambakhsh. “We hoped Iran would show some compassion for Marwan” they continue “but the campaign for Makwan’s life carried out by thousands of GLBT activists all over the world has been ignored. We are also amazed at how some people, even in the international press, defined Makwan a “child offender”, when he was only a child himself when he loved a boy of the same age.”

“Makwan’s family are distraught” says Ahmad Rafat of EveryOne. “Any day now could be Makwan’s last, because the Iranian judges only notify the time and place of the prisoner’s execution the night before it takes place.” EveryOne Group asks everyone to send postcards, letters and e-mails to the Minister of Justice and the Iranian President. On every postcard draw a heart with the words “We love Makwan. Makwan is innocent and must be spared”. A campaign of love, launched by EveryOne Group, because in Iran those people who love in a different way – gays and lesbians – are considered criminals who are given the harshest sentences, and are sometimes even sentenced to death.

“We don’t have long” say the leaders of EveryOne. “Act immediately, ask friends and acquaintances to send the Iranian authorities as many letters and postcards as possible because the judges and President of the Islamic Republic of Iran must know they are killing an innocent person - that every year they imprison, torture and kill thousands of innocent people.”

For the EveryOne Group: Roberto Malini, Matteo Pegoraro, Dario Picciau, Ahmad Rafat, Glenys Robinson, Arsham Parsi, Christos Papaioannou, Steed Gamero, Fabio Patronelli, Laura Todisco, Alessandro Matta

For further information:
Gruppo EveryOne
(+ 39) 334-8429527
www.everyonegroup.com :: info@everyonegroup.com

Send postcards, letters, fax and e-mails to:

Head of the Judiciary
His Excellency Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi
Ministry of Justice, Panzdah Khordad (Ark) Square, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Email: info@dadgostary-tehran.ir
(In the subject line: FAO Ayatollah Shahroudi)
Fax: 011 98 21 3390 4986
(If the call is not answered first time, please keep trying. When it is answered, say “fax please”.)

Leader of the Islamic Republic
His Excellency Ayatollah Sayed Ali Khamenei, The Office of the Supreme Leader Islamic Republic Shahid Keshvar Doust Street, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Email: info@leader.ir

President His Excellency Mahmoud Ahmadinejad – The Presidency
Palestine Avenue, Azerbaijan Intersection, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Fax: 011 98 21 6 649 5880
Email: dr-ahmadinejad@president.ir
E-mail: via web: //www.president.ir/email/

Speaker of Parliament
His Excellency Gholamali Haddad Adel Majles-e Shoura-ye Eslami
Baharestan Square, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Fax: 011 98 21 3355 6408
Email: hadadadel@majlis.ir

Majlis-e Shoura-e Islami’s President (Islamic Assembly):
hadadadel@majlis.ir

Embassy of Iran in UK
info@iran-embassy.org.uk

Ambassy of Iran in Turkey
Tehran Street, No.10 Davaklidere, Ankara - Turkey P.O.Box: 33
Fax +90-312 4632823
Email: iranembassy@hotmail.com

K, I am sorry for your

K, I am sorry for your horrific loss, it is quite beyond words.... but do you think millions of people should pay and endure the same kind of pain and torture you have endured, for you to feel a little relief?
HATRED has totally blinded you to the truth.
The only thing that remains for you to acheive is revenge, at any cost...
Let's say 10 million people die... 5 million of which are mollas or mollazadehs, will that satisfy you?
Will that bring your family back?
Will you be able to sleep better at night?
Will the pictures of all the killings and all the mutilated and scorched bodies help you forget your deep rooted sorrow and pain?
Will the total devastation of a People/country help you in rationalizing your thoughts?
K please get some help... no one can go through something like this and not be blinded by hate, you need help. Anyone in your shoes would need help, anyone...
As for Makwan let's hope we can do something for this child and all other chilren in the same boat too.

Steel Rain!!!

Iranian are unable to stop the execution of this poor 13 year old or other people in Iran. There must be an international intervention. Iranians need to be held accountable for what they have done to innocent people. Steel rain is to make certain that these people are forced to led go of their murderous regime.
It happened in the case of Germany. It can happen in Iran.
From her ashes a new nation will be born, if not be toukhmam. If they do not wish to be part of the civilized World then its destruction is of no issue.
Let people see that not Iranians support the IRI and are willing to resort to force to rid the World of Mullahs/IRI and their supporters.
This 13 year old boy and many other will die at the hands of the IRI. The only way to stop this is force. IRI does not understand or believe in diplomacy.

steel rain????

in reply to kourosh

you said: "a majority of Iranians still want an IRI."

so what are you talking about? a sovereign nation wants its government? and you're sitting here screaming for what???

I am sorry that you are so confused and blinded by hate.

don't get me wrong: I am not saying IRI is wanted! I am saying they are criminal and they should be stopped. But you Mr Kourosh khan seem to think that people in Iran need to suffer!!!
are you human? is there any humanity left? how can you see a post about the execution of a very possibly innocent young man for a crime allegedly committed at 13, then get all outraged and talk about steel rain!!!! so it's not enough how many innocent lives the mullahs are taking? we need to bomb the whole nation to make you FEEL better????

you better get a life and stop yelling out your slogans, so people don't judge all Iranians based on you!

Iranians revolted and chose IRI!

It is time to face their choices! They have been the cause of much death and misery. There is no internal solution, because the majority of Iranians still want an IRI. Their choices have brought misry on their own people and the region.

Every person that marched must be held accountable. Every person that voted for IRI must be held accountable.

Steel rain is coming!

No matter how sad and injust

No matter how sad and injust this may be...action against a soverign country is wrong. It is the West's meddling in our affaires that has been part of the reason why this poor kid is under this type of justice system. If we allow foreign countries to attack us, we are inviting them to come and tear us apart and steal much more of our natural resources. And for what? Liberty? Look at Iraq. Us really did a great job at liberating Iraq. Open you eyes hamvatan. We shouldn't shrug it you are right, but the change to an attack from withing, must come from within. Once and for all, we have to manage our government. Enough of wars with monghols, arabs, and everyeone else. We can only be strong if we decide on our fate and work toward peace and democracy as a nation. The only help outsiders can give us, is through dicplomatic means. Kind of like what happened in South Africa.

13-year-old child??

Dear Observer,

YOU ARE CORRECT TO SAY, IT IS WRONG TO HAVE U.S. BOMB OUR COUNTRY. HAVING SAID THAT, ALSO SEE WHAT KOUROSH IS SAYING! I MEAN PLEASE READ THE TOPIC.. A 13 YEAR BOY WILL BE EXECUTED FOR WHAT EXACTLY?? DO YOU REALLY WANT A COUNTRY LIKE THAT? MAYBE YOU PREFER OUR POEOPLE DIR GRADUALLY RATHER THAN QUICK DEATHS BY AMERICAN BOMBS???

ENOUGH SAID!! ARE WE GOING TO GET UP AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT? OR? SHRUG IT OFF AND SAY "BE MAN CHE"?

OUR COUNTRY IS UNDER ATTACK FROM WITH-IN.
ISLAMIC REPUBLIC IS NOT IRAN AND IS NOT PART OF IRAN...AND NEVER WILL BE.

My sympathies...

Sorry for your loss... unlike you I care about all Iranians and even if none of my own family lived there I would not wish them death and destruction by the hands of a foreign military.

it's obvious that you have been hurt, the Iranians inside the country are hurting for all these 28 years (at least) non-stop and their every day living is under pressure and full of struggle.
So what do you suppose they need? bombs raining on them? do you really think even the smartest bombs made by USA would distinguish between a mullah and an innocent child?
No sir, you are aiming your anger at the wrong people.
I am sorry that you have been hurt so much, but you were not alone and please do not assume that noone else shares the pain.
The difference between you and me is that I do not want my country in ruins, she has already seen too much havoc.
Please concentrate and focus your emotions in a positive way and try to help her out! write to your elected reps, make sure they stop IRI from committing such human rights violations. If they know they're being watched and judged by these actions, the people will live in less misery.

Thank you

Observer. . .

Finally, someone is willing to comment, but it is off topic. While you are concerned about my choice of words, your Iran is being ruined.

You had certain questions, well here you go:

My family was executed by IRI - my father, three brothers and my mother when she tried after 7 years to return to care for her dying mother. I have nothing left in Iran. IRI and their supporters will have to pay. It is not enough they lost over a 1 million people during the course of the Iran-Iraq war. Thousands of innocent people were murdered by IRI while Iranians stood still. In fact, this continues now and they still do not get involved. Like you they are more concerned about the choice of language. Kiram tou roheh mosalmonetoun!!

I recall my neighbor in Tehran being attacked by a mob. They forced a shovel down his throat until he was dead. This is while his young son and wife watched. The people cheered and chanted while they looked on. His crime he was a leftenant in the army.

Millions does not describe my sentiments!!!

Kourosh khan

First of all I am embarrassed even to address you who use such foul language
secondly: who do you think US bombed in Iraq?? do you really want the people of our country killed by the million???
what kind of patriotism is that? don't you have any loved ones in Iran? would you like them to be begging the americans for water? Do you want to see such atrocities happen in Iran?
I guess with that kind of mentality you should have such a vocabulary too! no wonder!!!
it's a shame

That's what I thought!!!

You are willing to defend IRI and be all bent out of shape when I support leveling the Mullahs, but none of you naneh jendeh arabzadehs are willing to make a comment about this poor child who facing death.

Khak barsarehtoun!!!

IRI deserves to be invaded. Bush picked the wrong country in 2003. He should put all that money and might into IRI!!!

Shoma naneh jendeha come out on the streets to watch people hang, and be stoned to death. Az hayvoun kam taren.

Madar Jendeha....kojaeen?

You still want to hold off on confronting the IRI! All of you who do not wish IRI to be confronted are bunch of cowards. IRI days are numbered - you may jump on the band wagon later like good cowards.

How many more people have to die for you to get it?