www.stopchildexecutions.com

URGENT CALL - imminent child execution
FEB 27, 2008
Tehran- Iran
Ahmad (last name unknown)

Death sentence of another Iranian youth was verified by Iran's superior court. According to Iran's ISCANEWS, in August of 2006, 22 year old Mehdi was stabbed by 16 year old Ahmad and died in a Tehran hospital after 6 months. Now that Ahmad's has reached the age of 18, his case was reviewed by the Iran's Islamic superior court and he was sentenced to death by hanging.
ISCANEWS reported that In his defense Ahmad told the court: "My father had an accident when I was only 16 years old and I went to visit him because he was bed confined at my step uncle's home. The water pipe inside the house was broken and my step mother and female cousin had to go to street to wash the dishes (using the faucet outside) and I was watching them from the window. Mehdi and two of his friends who were sitting in the street started making wisecracks at them. My stepmom and cousin came inside the home and Mehdi and his friends sent a kid to enter our yard and check up on them. I went downstairs and told the boy to leave our home. At this time Mehdi and his friends came and started to beat me up until I fell and hit the dishes that were at the entrance door. While on the ground I saw a kitchen knife that was among the dishes and I picked it up to defend myself "
It is anticipated that Ahmad's file will soon be sent to Iran's head of Judiciary, Ayatollah Shahrudi for Estizan (permit to execute)
Background Information:

International law strictly prohibits the use of the death penalty against people convicted of crimes committed when they were under 18. As a state party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the CRC, Iran has undertaken not to execute child offenders. since 1990, the ruling Islamic regime in Iran has executed at least 31 juveniles, including more than 6 in 2007 and one (Javad Shajaee)earlier this week. The number of known persons facing execution in Iran for alleged crimes before the age of 18 has reached 96 according to our latest records. According to the statistics provided by an Iranian police official about 170 children (under 18 at time of alleged crime) can be facing execution in Iran. There has been a substantial surge in processing the children's file for execution and in the past 3 months SCE has reported 18 imminent executions. Earlier this month 42 European countries condemned Iran for the surge in child executions. Iran has broken the world records in 2007 with at least 297 known executions comparing to 177 in 2006.

As of February 2008 Stop Child Executions Campaign has recorded 101 children facing executions worldwide: 96 in Iran, 2 in Saudi Arabia, 2 in Sudan and 1 in Yemen. In 2007 at least 7 were reported to have been executed : 6 in Iran and 1 in Saudi Arabia. 3 are known to have been saved from execution: 2 in Iran and 1 in Yemen. The first child
execution in 2008 was performed by Iran's regime this week.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

- Call on the Iranian authorities to immediately halt the executions of Ahmad who was sentenced by the superior court
- Express concern that Ahmad was sentenced to death for a crime committed when he was under 18;
- Calling for the death sentences against Ahmad to be commuted;
- Remind the authorities that Iran is a state party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which prohibit the use of the death penalty against people convicted of crimes committed when they were under 18, and that the execution of Ahmad would therefore be a violation of international law;
- Urging the authorities to pass legislation to abolish the death penalty for offences committed by anyone under the age of 18, so as to bring Iran’s domestic law into line with its obligations under international law;
- Stating that you acknowledge the right and responsibility of governments to bring to justice those children suspected of criminal offences, but unconditionally opposes their death penalty.

APPEALS TO:
Head of the Judiciary
His Excellency Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahrudi
Ministry of Justice, Panzdah Khordad (Ark) Square,
Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Salutation: Your Excellency
Email: info@dadgostary-tehran.ir (In the subject line: FAO Ayatollah Shahroudi)
Fax: +98 21 3390 4986 (please keep trying, if the called is answered, say "fax please")

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

COPIES TO:
Director, Human Rights Headquarters of Iran
His Excellency Mohammad Javad Larijani
C/o Office of the Deputy for International Affairs
Ministry of Justice,
Ministry of Justice Building, Panzdah-Khordad (Ark) Square,
Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Fax: + 98 21 5 537 8827 (please keep trying)

and to diplomatic representatives of Iran accredited to your country.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY.

for more information about how to help visit://www.stopchildexecutions.com/how-you-can-help.aspx