URGENT: Boy facing imminent execution

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SCE Campaign
by SCE Campaign
29-Apr-2008
 

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
PUBLIC - AI Index: MDE 13/065/2008
29 April 2008
UA 114/08 - Imminent Execution
IRAN Behnoud Shojaee (m), aged 20,

Behnoud Shojaee is facing imminent execution for a murder committed when he was 17 years old, even though Iran is a state party to international treaties including the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), which expressly prohibit the execution of child offenders. The Office for the Implementation of Sentences has scheduled his execution to take place at 5:00 am on 7 May 2008.

On 18 June 2005, Behnoud Shojaee, then aged 17, intervened to stop a fight between his friend Hesam and another boy named Omid in Park-e-Vanak in Tehran. Behnoud Shojaee managed to separate the two boys but Omid swore at him, started a fight and threatened him with a knife. During the fight Behnoud Shojaee picked a shard of glass and stabbed Omid once in the chest, before fleeing the scene.

Behnoud Shojaee was sentenced to qesas (retribution) by Branch 74 of the Criminal Court in Tehran on 2 October 2006. During his trial, Behnoud Shojaee was not afforded legal representation and was therefore made to write a request for re-examination and re-trial of his case himself. According to his lawyer who recently took up his case, Behnoud Shojaee maintained throughout his trial that he only stabbed Omid once even though the coroner’s report stated that the victim died as a result of sustaining several injuries. His claims were never investigated and Behnoud Shojaee’s sentence was nevertheless confirmed by Branch 33 of the Supreme Court on 30 June 2007.

Under Article 206 (b) of Iran’s Criminal Code, murder is classed as premeditated “in cases where the murderer intentionally makes an action which is inherently lethal, even if [the murderer] does not intend to kill the person.”

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 86 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), //web.amnesty.org/library/index/engmde130592007.

Amnesty International opposes the death penalty in all cases, and supports the global trend away from the use of the death penalty, powerfully expressed in the UN General Assembly’s resolution calling for a worldwide moratorium on executions on 18 December 2007.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:


Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible, in Persian, Arabic, English or your own language:
-- calling on the authorities to commute the death sentence of Behnoud Shojaee, who is at imminent risk of execution for a crime committed when he was under 18;
-- 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 Shojaee would therefore be a violation of international law;
-- urging the authorities to pass legislation to abolish the death penalty for offences committed by people 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 in proceedings that meet international fair trial standards, 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 OR via website: www.president.ir/email

and to diplomatic representatives of Iran accredited to your country.
PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY

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//www.stopchildexecutions.com/behnood_shojaee.jpg 


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when and if you kill, you die

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That is the norm. Otherwise chaos will take over the society, as it has in the US of A.


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by Azarin Sadegh on

This is the exact text of my letter to Khameni.. I sent the same letter to Shahrudi (after only changing the header.) I hope it would help others to send emails too..Azarin ************* Leader of the Islamic Republic
His Excellency Ayatollah Sayed ‘Ali Khamenei,
Your Excellency, I am writing to you regarding Behnoud Shojaee. He is going to be executed very soon for a crime he committed when he was 17 years old. When I read about him, I remembered my son, who is 14 years old. As I look at him, I realize how immature he is, despite the fact that he has been loved and nurtured constantly. I also remember how easily he makes careless mistakes, or pure misjudgments. As a parent, I try to help him to learn through his mistakes, and to grow up to become a responsible adult.  As we know, Behnoud Shojaee never got this chance, but he seems to be a wonderful kid. His mistake? He mainly tried to end the fight between two of his friends, and unfortunately, at some point, he made a wrong choice. And after the accident, he never received any help and support from his parents or from his family. A 17 years old had to face a terrible situation all by himslef and I truly find it unfair to this kid. Of course, he made a big mistake, but his young age should explain the resaon of this mistake, and it is so painful to know that this same mistake is going to end his young life. I am sure he regrets it more than anybody else.   At this point, you are his only hope.   As a mother, I am asking for your forgiveness. Please give Behnoud a new chance to live, so he can believe in the values of humanity and empathy.   With highest regards, 


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Family photo or...

by Jahanshah Javid on

Thanks Irandokht. That photo is better than nothing. But any portrait, family photo... would be more effective.


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Photo

by IRANdokht on

Dear JJ

If you click on his name in the first paragraph you will see a picture:

Behnoud Shojaee

I guess that was the only picture they had...

 

IRANdokht


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Photo?

by Jahanshah Javid on

If you provide a photo it helps a lot to make cases this more human and personal.