During her February 2007 speaking tour, Nazanin Afshin-Jam
received an email titled "VERY URGENT" from an unknown sender
named Ali Alinejad. She was shocked to learn from Ali that
his brother Reza had been imprisoned for 5 years and was
now facing imminent execution for a murder he claims he
committed in self-defence when he was 17 years old. Nazanin
had not heard of this case and it was not reported with
Amnesty International. She immediately forwarded the message
to Nazanin Fatehi's lawyer Mr. Mostafaei to see if he could
help in any way. After reviewing the file, Mr. Mostafaei
agreed to take on Reza's case.
Later Mr. Mostafai sent Nazanin a letter he had written
to Ayatollah Shahroudi, head of judiciary of the Islamic
Republic of Iran, asking for an appeal and re-trial. In
his plea, Mr. Mostafaei explained that Reza was eating with
his friend Hadi Abedini on the sidewalk, in the city of
Shiraz, when they were approached by two men named Esmail
Daroudi and Mohammad Firouzi who started harassing them
with profanities. They proceeded to attack Reza and his
friend with a nunchaku
(a Japanese weapon used in martial arts). Reza's friend
testified that the two attackers had surrounded them and
they were not able to run away. Reza was seriously injured
by a blow to the head. While Reza was defending himself,
Esmail Daroudi was stabbed and killed. Another person who
had witnessed what had happened testified that Reza was
defending himself. The friend of the man who was killed
allegedly also testified that the fight was initiated by
them and that they attacked Reza and his friend with a nunchaku.
In his letter, attorney Mr. Mostafaei, concluded that the
murder was unintentional. He stressed that due to the fact
that Reza was only 17 years old at the time of offence,
he should not be executed because Iran is signatory to UN
covenants that prohibit the executions of minors for alleged
crimes committed below the age 18.
Reza is one of dozens of minors on death row sentenced by
the Islamic Republic of Iran. Reza needs your help. According
to Mr. Mostafaei, he only has one month to live.
Please write a letter to Iranian authorities asking for
stay of execution and a fair re-trial. Delara Darabi and
at least 21 other minors on death row awaiting execution.
[See List]
