Behnam's pleas before his execution

Share/Save/Bookmark

Behnam's pleas before his execution
by SCE Campaign
27-Aug-2008
 

Listen to the voice of Behnam Zare who was executed yesterday: (persian) CLICK

 

Sadly the final pleas of Behnam Zare asking for help from the world and human rights organizations did not reach the outside world until after his death. But he had already plead before and his family had already plead, just as his lawyer had , just as Stop Child Executions plead, just as Amnesty International did, just as European Union demanded, Just as 100's of human rights activists and people around the world did.

But the cruel leaders of Islamic regime in Iran cared less for any pleas. After all they must continue their regime of fear and death and what better way to plant those fears but by killing Iranian juveniles. Where else to show Iranian population that those who rule them are heartless and do not care about what Iranian nations and people of the world demand.

Iranian journalist, human and women rights activist, Asieh Amini last week in her blog asked: Who benefits from this bloodshed. ...and our answer to Asieh is : The ones who benefit (for now) are the ones who try to instigate fear, death and cruelty in the hearts of those who oppose their inhumanity.

Despite worldwide condemnations of murdering children, they have increased the bloodshed. They even have started interrogating those Iranians who are attempting to help save these children.

Voice of Behnam did not reach SCE and the outisde world until after his own death today. So, we will continue to play his voice for the rest of this month in all of our posting. Maybe his cries help save 134 other Iranian children who are standing in row to be executed by death sentences issued by the Islamic Judges and by direct approval of Iran's head of judiciary, Ayatollah Shahrudi and the blessing of Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei.

Listen to the voice of Behnam Zare who was executed on yesterday: (persian) CLICK

To sign the petition to stop child executions visit: //www.stopchildexecutions.com

 

 

Share/Save/Bookmark

more from SCE Campaign
 
default

Money Talks

by Realist (not verified) on

I bet he had a long time to think about what he has done and he may not have done it if he knew the consequence of his action,but it is too late now.Taking a person life is wrong.Taking this kid 's life was wrong also.Executing this boy is not going to bring back the man that he took his life,but I bet if he had the money to give to the relative of his victim he may have been alive or he may have been freed too.The relative of his victim would not get anything by his execution,but they could have gotten money if he or his family could afford it.


Souri

Khanoom jaan....if you are talking to me

by Souri on

I don't know if you are talking about me (here below) or not,
because last time you said, if you are not addressing me, it means that you are not talking to me...

Now, I am not discouraging anybody.
I just addressed Samsam and his proposition about signing the petition for
deporting the "hezbollahi" family or political member in America and
Europe. I said, it will never work. that's it.

No more mix and matching my comments please. Thanks


IRANdokht

Sorry to see discouraging comments...

by IRANdokht on

It's a shame to see that some people have no idea how SCE has already brought international attention to this subject. We've been reading SCE blogs and announcements for a long time here, didn't we notice? From Canadaian government to Amnesty international and the board of EU, there's been so many letters, urgent action calls and announcements made, some even made a difference in the outcome of some of these trials. 

Why do you think public hangings were banned?  There are ways to bring this to public attention and get international entities involved and make a difference.

Discouraging others to take action is THE WRONG THING TO DO!  we need to be united and we need to have a strong voice in order to make a difference. SCE has proven that we can change things, even one kid at a time.

Please don't give up!  

IRANdokht


Souri

Samsam jaan

by Souri on

You give too much credit and too much trust to the Western government (Europe & America) they would never bother themselves for such a petition. They will hide themselves behind the rules of respect for the "interior politics " of each country....blah blah blah

believe me, I have lots of experience in this domain as an ex-activist student in France. The French government had even extradite the Iranian terrorists who were responsible for a series of bomb explosion in Paris in 1986 which had killed and injured many French people.

Do you think really those government will take care of our children in Iran ? Don't be so naive, Samsam jan. The world turns around "oil, money and interests"....


default

samsam1111

by Kurdish Warrior (not verified) on

excellent point...


ebi amirhosseini

So Sad !!

by ebi amirhosseini on

I feel so hopeless,since despite all the efforts of poeple who campaigned for him,he couldn't be saved!.Why is that some poeple are so blood thirsty !.Today I read that there are 150 prisoners in Aslavieh,Dashtestan,awaiting their execution !.The debate among the city officials is not how to find a way to save them,but wether they can hang them in public or not!? since Shahrudi has banned public hanging!

 


SCE Campaign

Life for Sale

by SCE Campaign on

"Justice is not served through dollar signs. Justice is when someone serves time in order to reflect their wrongdoing and become rehabilitated to the point where they are no longer a threat to society."      NAZANIN AFSHIN-JAM co-founder of SCE
 

 An analysis of Ghisas in Sharia law of Iran

By:   D.W. Duke / SCE Legal Council //scenews.blog.com/1946498/

1. Government authorizes the ghisas and performs the act of execution:  The distinction made by the Attorney General between "GHISAS" and "EXECUTION" demonstrates poor logical analysis in effort to shift responsibility for the decision to carry out an execution away from the Iranian government.  It is the famous “Pontius Pilate” defense reasserted in 21st Century jurisprudence.   In Iran, ghisas is an act authorized by the state. Therefore, it is a “state action” in the sense that private citizens are authorized to make a life or death decision concerning one of its citizens.  The authority over life and death is delegated to private individuals.  To say that the government cannot interfere, while the government itself authorizes the ghisas and performs the act of execution, demonstrates a lack of understanding of even the most rudimentary principles of constitutional analysis and human rights law. Where the government allows a private citizen to determine the life or death of another citizen, that government is engaged in the act of ghisas itself by conferring authority over a state decision (life or death) upon a private citizen. This is nothing more than an ancient form of barbarism.

2.  The concept of ghisas places a monetary value on life and death: People sometimes ask how “blood money” differs from the payment of damages in a wrongful death action.  First and foremost, in a wrongful death action a party who has suffered a loss seeks compensation for the pain and suffering associated with the loss.  The parties attempt to settle throughout the litigation.  However, if they are unsuccessful in agreeing on the terms of a settlement, they proceed to trial.  At trial, the judge or jury determines whether the party who has lost a loved one is entitled to monetary damages and if so, how much.  In contrast, in the system of ghisas, if a party does not pay the money demanded, he is executed.  The penalty for not paying in a civil action is the possibility of a money judgment after trial.  However, the penalty for not paying blood money is death by execution.  Even worse, the alleged victim’s family is permitted to decide how much should be paid.  The system is inherently corrupt is the equivalent to extortion which is illegal in civilized nations of the world. 

3.  The system of ghisas discriminates on the basis of financial status: The system of ghisas is inherently corrupt in that it discriminates on the basis of financial status.  The poor are executed because they cannot raise the blood money whereas the rich are able to raise the money and are set free.  Thus, degree of culpability is completely irrelevant to the decision whether one is executed.  The decision is based solely on the ability to pay.

4.  In the ghisas system, the decision over life and death is not made by an impartial Trier of fact: In civilized nations, any bias on the part of a judge in rendering a death sentence is grounds for setting the sentence aside on appeal. The concept of ghisas does precisely the opposite. It places the decision over life and death in the hands of the very people who have the greatest bias, the family of the alleged "victim." The Attorney General of Iran would no doubt respond, "He has already been sentenced to death, the victim's family is simply deciding if he should be allowed to live." In a civilized culture the response would again be that such important matters as life and death should never be delegated to non-impartial private citizens, particularly not the family of the alleged victim.  

5.  The ghisas system holds the accused hostage until a ransom is paid: Under the system of ghisas as used in Iran, the accused is held in prison under the threat of execution until the family pays the “blood money.”  This is no different from holding someone hostage until a ransom is paid in a kidnapping case.  

6.  Under the system of ghisas one is executed for minor crimes and set free for capital offenses: At present, 17 year old Mosleh Zamani is awaiting his execution for alleging having sexual relations with a female when he was 13 years of age.  Recently two allegedly homosexual youths were executed for their alleged homosexuality.  In both of those situations there is no one to whom blood money can be paid because no one has suffered the death of a loved one.  In contrast, where one has committed the capital offense of murder he can be set free if the family of the victim accepts blood money.  Thus, the system is inherently unfair in that those guilty of a lesser crime cannot escape execution by the payment of blood money whereas those guilt of a capital offense can often escape execution and may even be given complete freedom simply because their crime is one that allows the payment of blood money. 

The foregoing are only a few of the more obvious examples of the inherent inequities in the ghisas system of Iran.  It is a corrupt system with roots in the ancient world of barbaric notions of criminal justice and it is a blight on the international community.

Stop Child Executions Campaign

www.stopchildexecutions.com

 


default

Paying "dieh" is absolutely the wrong thing

by Shamse Vazir (not verified) on

Samsam1111 and Kaveh are absolutely right. The Islamic regime is now holding children hostage and murdering them. Do we want to pay them to stop? If we do then they will learn to extort money from us by taking more children hostage. There will be more draconian laws and more children convicted. In turn we will pay them more money and the cycle will go on. I suggest instead that the world make it absolutely crystal clear to the IRI leaders that they will be hauled in front of the International court just like Milosevic or meet the same end as Saddam. Every time they murder a child there has to be punitive responses from the world community. Their travel privileges should be removed, their ambassadors kicked out and their assets confiscated. That is the only language these thugs understand.

In addition, they need to know their days are numbered and when the time comes there will be no place to hide. The world has changed and the only path for them is to the Hague. They should be looking for laywers.


IRANdokht

Azarin jan

by IRANdokht on

it's quite allright my dear!

I think we should repeat all these points. We all need to be more familiar with these cases and the obstacles these charities face. I know SCE is also a Canadian charity because of Nazanin being a Canadian Iranian, and I believe they can send the contributions to Iran easier than US based foundations, but the Dieh's amounts are ridiculously high and would raise a flag with US even if they are sent from canada. (not that SCE would pay for dieh which I completely understand)

We need to spread the word. I am still amazed that people would rather start their own fund raising instead of helping the group that has done so much for these kids already!!!

it's always nice to read your heartfelt comments

IRANdokht


Azarin Sadegh

My dear Irandokht,

by Azarin Sadegh on

After posting my comment, I saw yours...if I had read it, I didn't need to add mine my dear! You had already said (so well) the exact same points I was trying to make..:)

Azarin 


Azarin Sadegh

JJ, thanks for featuring this blog!

by Azarin Sadegh on

The idea of opening a fund seems like a good idea, but let's be honest...Do you really think we're going to have enough donation to cover the whole amount of one single "dieh"? Unfortunately there's also the problem of sending this money to Iran. It is already a big problem even for small amounts...then how do you expect to send $650,000 to Iran?  Organizations like SCE and Child Foundation or other "Binam" organizations have a hard time to register their charity or send any fund to Iran, just because of the sanctions against Iran

I think the best we can do is through organizations like Amnesty International, Or EU, or UN that can actually help these kids. That's why SCE has been trying to reach these international organizations capable of putting some real pressure on Iran.

A few months ago when I learned about Ali Mahin Torabi's case, I tried to contact as many organizations as I could. But SCE was the first one that replied to my email and the only one that actually did something for Ali. But they also used their connections to reach EU and UN. Plus, the case of Ali reached the Iranian Media and it was the big turning point for Ali. He finally got a trial where his innocence was proven.

But unfortunately - for Behnam - these same efforts ended up being useless. This time they didn't even contact his lawyer or his family. Yes...now they've learned their lesson.

But the least we can do is to sign these petitions. To help these organizations. To volunteer for them and to donate, donate, donate. Or if we can't donate, at least we can let people know about it. Talking, just talking....Because maybe our silence could get interpreted as indifference.

Thanks again,

Azarin


IRANdokht

buying their lives

by IRANdokht on

I am all for a collective effort and saving these kids, but there are issues to consider:

1- Due to the rocky financial relations with Iran, you can't legally send money especially large amounts from US

2- Each week there are at least 1-2 kids in need of a collection for Ghessas (total waiting in death row: 134)

3- Do you really believe that such large amounts (last one was about $650,000) can be obtained by donations when there's been only about 17000 people interested enough to sign the petition? (please note signing a petition is free)

 

IRANdokht


samsam1111

make a petition that every time they execute a child

by samsam1111 on

We must ask our host country with a petition to deport a  hezbollahi bazari family or a cultural attache from the host country(Europe.America) & confiscate their property. We know where they are.This way they will tell their aghaz to stop. I would start with  masjid Jaafari Imams across Europe & North America ..!


Kaveh Nouraee

?????

by Kaveh Nouraee on

From the year 700 B.C. until the present day......This is what we have to show for it?

And there are those who say these savages have the right to nuclear technology?

Nazi Germany's legacy is the systematic killing of Jews, and the IRI's legacy is the systematic killing of children.

DOSOMETHING......your idea is very noble and I'm sure it's based upon only the most honorable intentions, but what kind of message does it send? These people kill children. If they do not value the life of a child then they it's obvious that they do not value any human life at all. If blood money is paid, it will only serve to validate their warped and sick mentality.

These sick people cannot be dealt with as you would deal with normal people.

And to think that there are people who actually believe in this ideology roaming the earth and breathing the same air as we do. Is that supposed to mean that they are as good as we are or is it supposed to mean we are as evil as they are?


default

I'm Willing to pay into a fund collecting dieh

by t (not verified) on

I don't think it is right to pay blood money but given the urgency in saving these kids lives, I would be willing to pay a meaningful amount into such a fund.

JJ, why don't you organize an effort thru Iranian.com. This is an honorable cause.


Jahanshah Javid

buying lives

by Jahanshah Javid on

Petitions are not without effect, but DOSOMETHING is right.... it's a much better idea to create a fund and collect money to buy the lives of those waiting for execution.


default

WHY DO WE NEED SCE? This

by DOSOMETHING (not verified) on

WHY DO WE NEED SCE? This could be independent effort. Why not form multiple avenues of helping these kids?


IRANdokht

you want to help?

by IRANdokht on

They can't even get enough people to sign a petition for these kids!

now you want to pay ghessas money? the last one was asking for $650,000 (we have about 17000 signatures on the petition)

SCE doesn't collect money for Dieh because it's against their principles to pay for blood.

All they asked was for people to sign the petition and donate for these kids legal fees and other help they can give. Mr Mostafaie is not getting paid, but I am sure he has expenses traveling from city to city for all the kids he's trying to help.

Please ask your friends to sign their petition and donate if they can.

//www.stopchildexecutions.com 

Thanks

IRANdokht


default

WHY don't we set up a fund

by DOSOMETHING (not verified) on

WHY don't we set up a fund to buy these kids' lives. How much does it take to save him? How much
GHESAS MONEY does the family of the victim are asking for??


default

age of maturity for a boy is

by Anonymously (not verified) on

age of maturity for a boy is fifteen according to SHARIA!

what do you really expect? You,re talking about Iran where there is NO CIVIL LAWS.

Sharia and only sharia rules and they act accounting with it.


default

In the land

by Amir Kabir at Fin getting ready to go to the jaccuzi (not verified) on

that a 9 year old is forced to be married, then an 18 year old can be hanged. For as long as people like us compliment Charlie Rose's interview with criminals like Ahmadinejad, then we have no united voice.

We like to compliment Ahmadinejad to have won the chess game of interview with Rose, not realizing that all those questions and answers are pre-determined and filtered.

Iranians need to have a united voice and that will be accomplish when grandson of Reza Khaneh mir-Five comes forward along with his mom and announce that him and his clan are no longer interested to become a king. That will be the day that some of us will learn that from the very beginning we should have united against all of them and for as long as there is so much hostility among us, why should anyone listen to us?

Have you listened to the tape of those 9 year olds, that lost all their lifetime dreams by sleeping under a 40 old stinking man who most likely indulges on opium too. Now, that is a sad voice to listen too....


default

I just listened to it...

by Azarin at work (not verified) on

It is what i used to call a real "bad day": Starting the day with a phone meeting at 6:30 AM and then some fight with kids and husband and getting stuck in a car behind someone else's misfortune and then ...etc., etc., etc.

But today I changed my definition: Now a bad day starts with the voice of a dead kid. Now a bad day is when I have my makeup all over my face and my neck and I am afraid someone might hear my sniffings and might walk in my cube and asks me what's going on? What am I supposed to say in this case? That I just feel like a total coward and if I am crying it's just out of guilt and helplessness and self-disgust...knowing it is not very professional.

Oh...I am so disgusted at this moment.

JJ,

Please feature his voice. People need to hear it.

When are we going to realize that a person shouldn't die for something he did when he was only 15? Is there really anyone out there who has never made a mistake as a kid? Who is innocent enough to dare telling us that Behnam deserved to die?

Azarin


IRANdokht

can't do it!

by IRANdokht on

I finally found the courage to click on the link and couldn't download it. I am sure it won't be easy to hear the cries of a hopeless kid, but I think we need to hear him out. We need to see what kind of people heard him cry like that and still took his life without giving him a chance to say goodbye to his family.

IRANdokht


default

I listened

by SAD (not verified) on

I was afraid to listen. I thought it would be too sad to listen. It was something really sad but listening to it was not that difficult. This is a tragedy and something that the Iranian regime does not care about, just like many other important things it does not care about. It cares about nuclear bombs!


default

i couldn't listen to his

by gold fish (not verified) on

i couldn't listen to his voice knowing that he's dead, jj please feature it so every one can hear his voice, and start helping other voiceless by signing the petition.