www.stopchildexecutions.com

URGENT CALL - imminent child execution
FEB 17, 2008
Karaj- Iran
Farzad Alizadeh فارسي


According to a report by Student Committee of Human Rights Reporters, an Iranian boy named Farzad Alizadeh is facing imminent execution for an alleged rape. 17 year old Farzad along was accused of rape along with few of his friends, however he was lead to believe that due to his young age, he would not be penalized and therefore unilaterally accepted the charges. Subsequently he was the one sentenced to death.

Farzad Alizadeh who is now 20 years old, is imprisoned in the Rajai-Shar prison in city of Karaj. He was called by the division of enforcements and he is likely to be executed in the coming days. Stop Child Executions strongly condemns the death pently of Farzad Alizadeh and demand the authorities of Islamic regime in Iran to halt the upcoming execution.

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 30 juveniles, including more than 6 in 2007. 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 17 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.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

- Call on the Iranian authorities to immediately halt the executions of Farzad Alizadeh kept in Rajai-Shar prison in Karaj, Iran.
- Express concern that Farzad Alizadeh was sentenced to death for a crime committed when he was under 18;
- Calling for the death sentences against Farzad Alizadeh 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 Farzad Alizadeh 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