Tag Archives: campaign

Download, Donate & Stop Child Executions

Bodog Entertainment released Nazanin Afshin-Jam’s newly recorded Christmas song titled “On Christmas Day.”

ALL the proceeds of the song is being donated to the Stop Child Executions campaign.  

Stop Child Executions Campaign was co-founded by Nazanin to raise awareness about this issue, and more importantly to put an end to one of the most heinous manifestations of the death penalty — its use against children. Additionally, the single will be available for sale on itunes.
  
 “While we are gathered by the fire singing Christmas songs, I want the children in the cold prison cells in Iran to know that they are not forgotten. I want them to feel hope that they have another chance at life. We are a completely volunteer based organization, so every penny goes directly to the campaign.” said Nazanin.
 
According to the United Nations, a child is a person under the age of 18. Despite the fact that the government of Iran has signed International Covenants that forbid them to execute anyone who has allegedly committed an offence before the age of 18, they continue to do so. Amnesty International has documented 24 executions of child offenders in Iran since 1990. In many cases, these minors have been imprisoned until the age of 18 and then executed. Currently, there are over 80 minors on death row in Iran. 
 
Nazanin and Stop Child Executions Campaign have witnessed that some child offenders in Iran were not executed or even released because of the international pressure. 
  
To download the songs visit www.nazanin.ca and for more information on Stop Child Executions visit www.stopchildexecutions.com. Your gift can make a difference. 

یک روز قبل از چهارشنبه آخر ماه

سه شنبه بیست و هشتم شهریور 1385 15:27  میترا خلعتبری 

حس عجیبیه. حس بدیه. حس گنگیه.

حس روزهای سه شنبه های آخر هر ماه رو میگم. درست یه روز قبل از اینکه محکومان به مرگ رو اعدام کنند.
چهارشنبه آخر هر ماه کسانی که حکم اعدامشون از طرف دیوان تایید شده باشه اعدام می شوند، در این سال ها هنوز یک ماه رو فراموش نکردم که سه شنبه آخر ماه رو به یاد اعدامی ها نباشم.
اما امروز وای از امروز.
 حوالی ظهر بود که آقایی با صدای گرفته به تلفن سرویس زنگ زد و گفت، خانم خلعتبری فردا پسر 17 ساله ام رو اعدام می کنند. یه کاری کنید. شیرین عبادی رو برایم پیدا کنید. خانم عبادی گفته بود که پسرم از آنجا که زیر 18 سال سن دارد، اعدام نمی شود اما اون رو فردا می خواهند، می خواهند……..
در طول مدتی که مرد با صدای گرفته در مورد اعدام پسرش صحبت می کرد، یخ کردم و تمام وجودم سست شد. نمی دونستم چی باید بگم. دلم می خواست به اون پدر نا امید بگم خانم عبادی در مورد کدوم قانون به تو گفته، قانونی که در مورد هیچ کس تا حالا اجرا نشد. درسته که غیر قانونیه که نوجوان زیر 18 سال رو اعدام کنند اما کی به این قانون عمل شد.
می خواستم فریاد بزنم و بگم این قانون اجرا نشده و نمی شه فقط تر خدا برو و رضایت اولیای دم رو بگیر. تر خدا برو و بهشون بگو که رضایت بدهند. امروز یاد پسر دیگه ای افتادم که مدت ها پیش اون هم در یکی از همین چهارشنبه های آخر یک ماه اعدام شد. چقدر زود چهارشنبه منتظر بودم که بگویند فلانی اعدام نشد، که بگویند اولیای دم رضایت دادند، که بگویند یه جوون دیگه به زندگی برگشت اما اون جوون هم اعدام شد و همه خیلی زود یادشون رفت که …….

تمام امروز رو به یاد اون پدری هستم که قراره فردا بچه اش اعدام بشه، حتی تصور اینکه اون می خواهد امروز و امشب رو چطور بگذرونه دیوانه کننده هست. خیلی سخته که بدونی فردا عزیزت دیگه برای همیشه پیشت نیست. خیلی سخته…….

Letters sent to Iran

Here are few letters that were sent to Iranian authorities about Ali Mahin-Torabi:

Sent: Thursday, October 18, 2007

Dear Ayatollah Sayed ‘Ali Khamenei  – Leader of the Islamic Republic,

I am writing to you regarding the execution of Ali Mahin Torabi. he is facing the execution in Iran / Karaj at any time, for a crime that he is alleged to commit when he was only 16 years old.

He is the nephew of one of my friends (who is actually 9 months pregnant). She is extremely worried and depressed about the situation of her nephew that she considers like her own son. Ali is truly innocent and we are afraid that by his execution he will pay for someone else’s crime.

His lawyer thinks that there are serious doubts in his guilt, so I would truly appreciate if you could take urgent steps to cancel his death sentence and accept his appeal.

Having two boys myself (who are the pearls of my eyes as the beautiful peresian expression says) still I cannot imagine how desperate and how helpless Ali’s parents should be feeling right now.

You are the only one with this power to stop their pain. I am sure your experience and your good heart would be able to change the father of victim’s mind and your wise words would show him the path to forgiveness. 

Thank you for your understanding and compassion,

Sincerely,
Azarin Sadegh

His Excellency Ayatollah Sayed ‘Ali Khamenei
Leader of the Islamic Republic
The Office of the Supreme Leader
Islamic Republic Street – Shahid Keshvar Doust Street
Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran

October 16, 2007

Your Excellency,

As an officer of Hendrix College Amnesty International I am writing to express my deep concern over the imminent execution of Ali Mahin Torabi, who was convicted of murder as a child.
As a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, I hope that you will help uphold Iran’s obligation to prohibit the use of the death penalty for those convicted of crimes who are under the age of 18. As Leader of the Islamic Republic, I ask you to please halt and commute the death sentence of Ali Mahin Torabi immediately.
Additionally, I have learned that approximately 75 other child offenders are presently on death row in Iran. I hope that similar consideration will be given to those offenders.
Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,
 

Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi
Head of the Judiciary
Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Justice Building,
Panzdah-Khordad Square,
Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
October 16, 2007
Your Excellency,

As an officer of Hendrix College Amnesty International I am writing to express my deep concern over the imminent execution of Ali Mahin Torabi, who was convicted of murder as a child.
As a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, I hope that you will help uphold Iran’s obligation to prohibit the use of the death penalty for those convicted of crimes who are under the age of 18. As Head of the Judiciary, I ask you to please halt and commute the death sentence of Ali Mahin Torabi immediately.
Additionally, I have been informed that approximately 75 other child offenders are presently on death row in Iran. I hope that similar consideration will be given to those offenders.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
 

His Excellency Gholamali Haddad Adel
Speaker of Parliament
Majles-e Shoura-ye Eslami
Baharestan Square
Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
October 16, 2007

Your Excellency,
As an officer of Hendrix College Amnesty International I am writing to express my deep concern over the imminent execution of Ali Mahin Torabi, who was convicted of murder as a child.
As a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, I hope that you will help to uphold Iran’s obligation to prohibit the use of the death penalty for those convicted of crimes who are under the age of 18. As Speaker of Parliament, I ask you to do everything in your power to halt Ali Mahin Torabi’s execution and commute his sentence.
Additionally, I have been informed that approximately 75 other child offenders are presently on death row in Iran. I hope that similar consideration will be given to those offenders, and that Iran might pass legislation prohibiting the execution of child offenders, bringing Iranian law up to international standards.

Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,

Stop Child Execution Petition in German

Thanks to Michael Krömer in Vienna , the German translation of the Stop Child Executions Campaign is now available and posted on our website at www.stopchildexecutions.com

An: den Generalsekretär der Vereinten Nationen, Ban Ki-moon, den obersten Führer der Islamischen Republik Iran, Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei, und an das Oberhaupt der Justiz in der Islamischen Republik Iran, Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi.

Wir, die Unterzeichner, sind tief besorgt über die anhaltende Praxis der Todesstrafe für angebliche Straftaten, die von jugendlichen Iranern im Alter von unter 18 Jahren begangen worden sind.

Artikel 6.5 des Internationalen Paktes über bürgerliche und politische Rechte (ICCPR) besagt: “Todesurteile sollen nicht für Verbrechen auferlegt werden, die von Personen verübt wurden, die das achtzehnte Lebensjahr noch nicht vollendet haben”.

Artikel 37(a) der Kinderrechtskonvention (CRC) sieht vor:
“Weder die Todesstrafe noch lebenslange Haft ohne die Möglichkeit einer Entlassung sollen für Straftaten verhängt werden, die von Personen verübt wurden, welche das achtzehnte Lebensjahr noch nicht vollendet haben.”

Als einer der Unterzeichnerstaaten hat sich die iranische Regierung völkerrechtlich verpflichtet, beide Artikel zu erfüllen. Dennoch hat Amnesty International 21 Hinrichtungen von minderjährigen Straftätern im Iran seit 1990 dokumentiert. In vielen Fällen wurden diese Minderjährigen vor ihrem 18. Geburtstag inhaftiert, aber erst danach hingerichtet.

Im Januar 2005 hat das UN Komitee für Kinderrechte,  das die Staaten auf die Einhaltung der Vorschriften der Kinderrechtskonvention kontrolliert, den Iran gedrängt, Exekutionen von minderjährigen Straftätern sofort auszusetzen und die Todesstrafe für Minderjährige gänzlich abzuschaffen. Im Sommer 2006 wurde berichtet, das iranische Parlament habe ein Gesetz verabschiedet, das die Einrichtung von speziellen Gerichten für Kinder und Jugendliche vorsieht. Jedoch wurde es bislang noch nicht vom Wächterrat, der die Übereinstimmung der iranischen Gesetzgebung mit den islamischen Grundsätzen sicherstellen soll, gebilligt. Während der letzten vier Jahre haben die iranischen Behörden angeblich eine Gesetzesänderung erwägt, welche die Todesstrafe für minderjährige Straftäter verbietet. Jüngste Kommentare von Justizsprechern deuten auf einen Gesetzesvorschlag, der nur bei einigen bestimmten Verbrechen die Todesstrafe untersagen würde und nicht bei allen Straftaten, die durch Kinder begangen werden.

Trotz dieser Anstrengungen, ist die Zahl der hingerichteten Kinderstraftäter im Iran in den letzten zwei Jahren angestiegen. Bis März 2007 verblieben immer noch mindestens 25 Kinderstraftäter in Todestrakten im Iran. Die folgende Liste gibt deren Namen und Alter (sofern bekannt) zum Zeitpunkt ihrer vermeintlichen Verbrechen wieder:

1. Delara Darabi, 17
2. Beniamin Rasouli, 17
3. Hossein Toranj, 17
4. Hossein Haghi, 17
5. Morteza Feizi, 16
6. Sa’eed Jazee, 17
7. Ali Mahin Torabi, 16
8. Milad Bakhtiari, 16
9. Farshad Sa’eedi, 17
10. Hossein Gharabaghloo, 16
11. Shahram Pourmansouri, 17
12. Hedayat Niroumand, 15
13. Mohammad Mousavi,
14. Mostafa, 16
15. Mahmoud, 17
16. Hamid, 17
17. Sajjad, 17
18. Farzad, 15
19. Asghar, 16
20. Iman, 17
21. Ne’mat, 15
22. Hamzeh S, 17
23. Saber
24. Reza Alinejad 17
25. Sina Paymand 17
Wir, die Unterzeichner, rufen die iranischen Behörden auf:
– Veröffentlichen Sie eine vollständige Liste aller minderjährigen Personen, die zum Tode verurteilt worden sind.
– Stoppen Sie unverzüglich Hinrichtungen von Minderjährigen und verhindern Sie deren Anwendung in der Zukunft.
– Ergreifen Sie umgehend Maßnahmen zur Abschaffung der Todesstrafe gegen minderjährige Straftäter entsprechend der iranischen Verpflichtungen als Mitgliedsland der ICCPR und der CRC.
Wir, die Unterzeichner, empfehlen den Vereinten Nationen, dem Hohen Kommissar für Menschenrechte der Vereinten Nationen und dem UN Komitee für Kinderrechte:
– Fordern Sie die iranische Regierung unverzüglich auf, den im ICCPR und CRC beschriebenen internationalenVerpflichtungen nachzukommen.


Hochachtungsvoll


Die Unterzeichner

Hier klicken, um die Petition zu unterschreiben. http://www.petitiononline.com/sce/petition-sign.html

Name: ______________________
Email: _______________________

Land: _______________________
Titel/Position: _________________

Belgium demonstration in front Iran Embassy تجمع عفو بین الملل مقابل سفارت ایران در بلژیک

Source: BBC persian.com

A demonstration was held by Amnesty International supporters in front of Iranian embassy in Belgium against executions in Iran.

ده اکتبر و به مناسبت روز جهانی مبارزه با مجازات اعدام، سازمان عفو بین الملل تجمعی در مقابل سفارت ایران در بروکسل، پایتخت اتحادیه اروپا برگزار کرد.

To see more photos click here:


 SOURCE: BBC Persian

The brutality of a rope

By Azarin Sadegh    
 

Still dark. A rope and torn nails. Emptiness beneath steps. I’m innocent. Stares. Faceless women in black.

The early morning of a summer of burning suns. My father pushes the crowd. The crowd is pushing me. I slip through the legs, hips and shoulders to find a gap. I rise and don’t reach. I walk and don’t move. I sit on the dusty road. Nothing happens. I am bored. I look for the green pebbles or blue. I want to make a wall around me. Half sky, half forest. But the world has only grey pebbles.

The brutality of a rope. Someone pushes me inside a hole. I stretch. My legs hurt. I weigh one million. She isn’t coming.

A straight line of ants follow each other from one hole to another. I admire their obedience. A half cigarette on the ground burns. My toes push it closer to the line of marching ants. They panic. I am filled with the pleasure of breaking the rules. Someone crashes an ant.

My eyes sweat. My hands touch the coldness of my wet shirt. I’m cold. I never told you the truth. Where are you? I’ve killed for you.

I hold cigarette’s burning side by my chosen ant, escaping. The doomed insect shivers and melts and flies like a little bird, only for this one millennium of a second. Awaiting a peaceful end, the time moves and the ant’s hollow shell smokes without a sound. The wind holds the invisible ashes. The rhythmic commotion of insects, and the harmony of the voyeurs grasping the immorality of an execution. How difficult is to restore order out of this vain extent of chaos?

Nobody’s watching. She isn’t here. I’ve died alone. Where is heaven?

My father stands by me. His shadow protects my innocent games. I find another ant, and still another. I am sick. The tang of acid formic in the air, on my tongue. I decide to believe in heaven, filled with infinite lines of striding ants, carrying food, following the line, keeping the order, having a purpose. The sound of cheers and then, something falls. The breeze forms this ambiguous dance of hanging legs, blessed or wicked. The macabre sound of a weeping woman, unnamed in black chador, silences the crowd. I look down. No more ants. Only two empty holes. My father caresses my hair and whispers: “Don’t watch. Don’t watch.”

Dead? Not yet. A cry, a weep, she’s here. Watch me now. I’m still alive. The sun is all red, shining beneath my feet. And the sky, colorless, in my fist. I fall. I’m inside the dead leaves of past autumns. Vanishing. I’m weightless. A wall painted in green and blue is rising, half ocean, half earth. I’m enfolded. I inhale and don’t breathe. It’s heaven.

“I watch Father, I watch, but I don’t see.”