www.stopchildexecutions.com

Following the urgent action call by SCE Campaign to stop execution of Behnood in December 23, 2007, Amnesty International last week issued an urgent action request

URGENT ACTION

08 January 2008 UA 09/08 Death penalty

IRAN Behnoud (m), full name not known, aged about 19, child offender

A young man called Behnoud has been convicted of a murder committed before he was 18, and is now believed to be in danger of execution. Behnoud was convicted of beating to death a 19-year-old man, known only as Ehsan, with a bottle during a street fight in 2005. At the time of the murder, Behnoud was aged about 17. To execute him would be a violation of international law. Behnoud was sentenced to qesas (retribution) by a court in Tehran, and his sentence was upheld by the Supreme Court. According to the Iranian news agency Fars, Ehsan’s family is demanding that Behnoud be executed. However, the case has been referred to conciliation in order to allow both families to negotiate the payment of diyeh (blood money) in exchange for pardoning Behnoud.

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 79 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 (June 2007) , //web.amnesty.org/library/index/engmde130592007

RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible:

- expressing concern that Behnoud is at risk of execution for a crime committed when he was under 18;

- calling on the authorities to commute his death sentence;

- 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 offense, and that the execution of Behnoud would therefore be a violation of

international law;

- urging the authorities to pass legislation to abolish the death penalty for offenses committed by persons 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 offenses, but unconditionally opposes the death penalty.

Amnesty International's mission is to undertake research and action
focused on preventing and ending grave abuses of the rights to physical
and mental integrity, freedom of conscience and expression, and freedom
from discrimination, within the context of its work to promote all human rights.

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

via website: www.president.ir/email

Director, Human Rights Headquarters of Iran

His Excellency Mohammad Javad Larijani

Howzeh Riassat-e Ghoveh Ghazaiyeh

(Office of the Head of the Judiciary)

Pasteur St.,

Vali Asr Ave., south of Serah-e Jomhuri,

Tehran 1316814737, Islamic Republic of Iran

Fax: 011 98 21 3390 4986

(Please keep trying)

Email: fsharafi@bia-judiciary.ir

(In the subject line: FAO Mohammad Javad Larijani)

int_aff@judiciary.ir

(In the subject line: FAO Mohammad Javad Larijani)

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the AIUSA Urgent Action office if sending

appeals after 20 February 2008.