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SCE alphabetized list of 71 Iranian Children facing execution

Amnesty International with cooperation of Stop Child Executions Campign issued a report titled: Iran The Last Executioner of Children.  The 46 page report is most comprehensive report in English and Persian to date lists 71 children facing execution in Iran.

Last month other reports were published by Emadeldin Baaghi , the founder of the Association for the Defense of Prisoners’ Rights in Iran, Human Rights Watch and Stop Child Execution Campaign.

After comparison of the Amnesty International Report to the latest Stop Child Executions list , we have update the list to reflect 71 known cases of children facing Execution in Iran. This number is anticipated to be increased as more international attention is being directed to Iran’s violation of children rights. 

(The numbers after the names are the age, when known, of the person when 
the crime they are sentenced for were committed)

Girls:

  1. Delara Darabi, 17
  2. Nazbibi Ateshbejan, 16
  3. Soghra Najafpour, 13
Boys:
  1. Abbass Hosseini, 17    
  2. Abdolkhaleq Rakhshani       
  3. Ahmad Jabari, 15       
  4. Ahmad Nourzahi, 12   
  5. Akoo Hosseini          
  6. Ali Alijan, 17       
  7. Ali Mahin Torabi, 16       
  8. Ali Norumohammadi, 16 
  9. Alireza Movassili Roudi, 16       
  10. Amir Calehchaleh, 17       
  11. Asghar, 16       
  12. Behador Khaleqi, 16     
  13. Beniamin Rasouli, 17     
  14. Farshad Sa’eedi, 17       
  15. Farzad, 15       
  16. Feyz Mohammad, 16       
  17. Feyzollah Soltani
  18. Gholam Nabi Barahouti, 16
  19. Habib Afsar, 15
  20. Hamed, 15
  21. Hamid, 17
  22. Hamid Reza, 14
  23. Hamzeh S., 17
  24. Hani Momeni Yasaqi
  25. Hasan Mozaffari
  26. Hedayat Niroumand, 14 or 15
  27. Hossein Gharabaghloo, 16
  28. Hossein Haghi, 17
  29. Hossein Toranj, 17
  30. Iman, 17
  31. Khodamorad Shahemzadeh, 17
  32. Mahmoud, 17
  33. Masoud, 17
  34. Mehdi, 16
  35. Mehyar Haghgoo, 17
  36. Mehyar Anvari, 17
  37. Milad Bakhtiari, 16
  38. Mohammad Jahedi
  39. Mohammad Jamali Paghale, 15
  40. Mohammad Mavari, 16
  41. Mohammad Pezhman
  42. Mohammad Reza Turk
  43. Morteza Feizi, 16
  44. Mostafa, 16
  45. Mostafa Sa’idi
  46. Nabavat Baba’I, 17
  47. Na’im Kolb’ali, 15
  48. Naser Qasemi, 15
  49. Ne’mat, 15
  50. Omarraddin Alkuzehi, 17
  51. Omid Sarani, 17
  52. Rahman Shahidi
  53. Rasoul Eyvatvandi, 17
  54. Rasoul Mohammadi, 17
  55. Rasoul Nouriyani
  56. Rasoul Safari, 17
  57. Reza Alinejad, 17
  58. Saber
  59. Sadegh Ahmadpour, 17
  60. Sa’eed Jazee, 17
  61. Sa’id Arab
  62. Sajjad, 17
  63. Salman Akbari, 17
  64. Shahram Pourmansouri, 17
  65. Sina Paymard, 16
  66. Siyavash Shirnejad
  67. Vahid, 16
  68. Zolf’ali Hamzeh, 

PRESS RELEASE: Amnesty International Urges Iran to End Child Executions

WASHINGTON, June 26 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Iran’s judicial and
political authorities should order an immediate moratorium to prevent
further executions of child offenders and amend the laws so no children who
commit crimes can be sentenced to death, Amnesty International urged today
in a new report, “Iran: The Last Executioner of Children.” The organization
states that at least 71 child offenders are awaiting execution in Iran,
where more child offenders have been executed than in any other country
since 1990.
    “It is absolutely shameful that Iran continues this hideous practice,”
sad Larry Cox, Amnesty International USA executive director. “The Iranian
government must end this immoral system. Executing those who commit crimes
while they’re only children is not only against international standards, it
is absolutely repulsive and unconscionable.”
    Amnesty International lists the names of the 71 child offenders known
to be facing the death penalty, but notes that the total number may be much
higher as many death penalty cases in Iran are believed to go unreported.
Of the 24 child offenders recorded as having been executed since 1990, 11
were still under the age of 18 at the time of their execution while the
others were either kept on death row until they had reached 18 or were
convicted and sentenced after reaching that age.
    “Though Iranian officials deny reports that they execute minors,
Amnesty International has recorded two executions this year,” said Elise
Auerbach, Amnesty International USA Iran country specialist. “In April,
Mohammad Mousavi, aged 19, was executed for a crime committed when he was
16. Sa’id Qanbar Zahi was only 17 when he was hanged on May 27, 2007 at
Zahedan prison. Zahi was sentenced to death with six other members of
Iran’s Baluchi minority two months earlier.”
    The execution of Atefeh Rajabi Sahaaleh, sentenced for “crimes against
chastity” and hanged at the age of 16 in August 2004, is one of seven cases
highlighted by the report. A day after her execution, a judiciary official
told a newspaper that she was 22-years-old. Rajabi’s case highlights the
failure of the Iranian judicial system to protect children and provides
further evidence that some child offenders are executed in Iran even before
they reach the age of 18. The report also lists the cases of 17 other
people who were executed for crimes committed when they were under the age
of 18.
    Although executions of child offenders are few compared to the total
number of executions in Iran, they highlight the government’s disregard for
its commitments and obligations under international law, which prohibits in
all circumstances the use of the death penalty against child offenders.
Apart from Iran, the only countries in which executions of child offenders
have been recorded since 2003 are China, Sudan and Pakistan, though the
Chinese and Pakistani authorities insisted that those executed were aged 18
or over at the time of the crime. In each year the number of child
offenders executed in Iran exceeded the total number of all other
executions of child offenders.
    Some members of the Iranian government and the judiciary are also
believed to favor at least reducing, if not abolishing, the death penalty
for child offenders, but progress is painfully slow. For example, a draft
law proposed by the judiciary in 2001 could pave the way for the abolition
of the death sentence for minors or at least result in a reduction in the
number of offenses for which child offenders could be sentenced to death,
but the draft law is still under consideration by the political and
judicial authorities.
    Amid the horror of child executions and the wider problem of the death
penalty in Iran, there are some positive signs, particularly the emergence
of a growing movement favoring the abolition of the death penalty for child
offenders. This is being led by a courageous band of human rights defenders
and activists within Iran, and it has already achieved some notable
successes.
    “Amnesty International applauds the brave Iranians who take enormous
risks to end one of the most horrendous systems practiced by any nation,”
said Cox.
    For a copy of the new report, Iran: The Last Executioner of Children,
please contact the AIUSA press office at 202.544.0200 x 302.

SOURCE Amnesty International USA

FOR COPY OF REPORT CLICK:  www.stopchildexecutions.com/Iran180607.pdf

Another child added to the Iran Execution ROW – Now 69 known cases

In an interview with BBC Radio (Persian), Iranian human rights lawyer Mr. Abdolfath Soltani gave a warning about imminent execution of yet another child in Iran who was sentenced to death for an alleged crime (possiblly due to self defense) when he was 16 years old. His name is Mohammad Ahmadi who is now 19 years old.

This brings the total number of children facing execution in Iran to 69.  On June 17, 2007 Stop Child Executions Campaign for the first time published a comprehensive list of 68 children : http://scenews.blog.com/1857468/ 

Stop Child Executions Campaign strongly condemns Iran’s violation of International laws. Iran remains to be the only country in the world with such an extensive list of children facing execution. Nazanin Afshin-Jam and Stop Child Executions are extremely concerned about the status of these children as two were already executed in Iran this year.

 

To sign the petition to stop child executions in Iran please visit: www.stopchildexecutions.com . The petition has been signed by many internationally known human rights activists , parliament members in Sweden, Norway, Canada and many people worldwide. For more information visit SCE page on wikipedia. The petition demands the Iranian leaders to :

– Provide a complete list of all individuals under the age of 18 who are sentenced to death.
– Immediately halt executions and prevent any further application of such penalties against child offenders.
– Take immediate measures to permanently abolish the death penalty for all child offenders in accordance with Iran’s obligations as a state party to the ICCPR and the CRC.

Petition also urges The United Nations, The United Nations High Commissioner of Human Rights and The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child to:

– Demand that the Iranian government immediately comply with its international obligations as defined by ICCPR and CRC

 On February 27, 2007 more than 34 members of European Parliament also signed a resolution to Stop Child Executions in Iran. 

Children facing execution in Iran as of June 24, 2007 (The number possibly exceeds since 69, since there is no official verified published list  :

Ali Nour-Mohammadi (16)
Rasoul Soghra (17)
Amir Chale-Chale (17)
Bahador Khaelghi (17)
Ali Mahin-Torabi (16)
Naser Ghasemi (15)
Rasoul Aboutondi (17)
Reza Ali-Nejad (17)
Nabovat Babai (17)
Delara Darabi-Haghihi (17) – Female
Soghra Najaf-Pour (13) – Female
Mohammd-Reza Tork
Rasoul Nooryani
Iman Nabavi
Mehdi Ghandali
Nazbibi Atashbejan (16)  Female
Siavash Shir-Nejad
Mahiar Anvari
Mohammd Mavari
Abdolkhalegh Rakhshani
Saiid Arab
Hani Momeni-Yasaghi
Salman Akbari
Mohammad Pejman
Rahman Shahidi
Hasan Mozafari
Sadegh Ahmad-Pour
Ahmad Jaberi
Akoo Hoseini
Feyzollah Soltani
Gholamnabi Barahooti
Omroldin Alkoozei
Mostafa Saiidi
Zolfali Hamzeh
Khodamorad Shadmazahi
Omid Sarani
Ahmad Norouzehi
Naim Kabeali
Habib Afshar
Alireza Mosali-Roudi
Ali Moradzadeh-Zagheh
Sina Paymard (16)
Masoud (17)
Shahram PourMansouri (17)
Hedayat Niroumand (15)
Hamid (17)
Abbas Hossein
Rasoul Mohamadi
Hamid-Reza (14)
Nemat
Vahid
Hamed
Beniamin Rasouli (m), 17
Hossein Toranj (m), 17
Hossein Haghi (m), 17
Morteza Feizi (m), 16
Sa’eed Jazee (m), 17
Milad Bakhtiari (m), 16
Farshad Sa’eedi (m), 17
Mahmoud (m), 17
Saber (m)
Sajjad (m), 17
Farzad (m), 15
Hossein Gharabaghloo (m), 16
Asghar (m), 16
Hamzeh S (m), 17
Iman (m), 17
Mostafa (m), 16 
Mohammad Ahmadi (16)

Delara Darabi Update

We were asked about recent published rumors about Delara Darabi being in “dire conditions” and that she “has given up all hope, and begs that she either be executed or set free“. It was also reported that “She is not allowed to paint or even read”

As reported more than a month ago by SCE campaign, Delara’s belongings along with few other prisoners were confiscated on May 12 , 2007 and since then there has not been any more such incidence. Thereafter she has been able to paint and write and she has actually created new paintings which we will present soon. 

Delara is expected to be transferred to the airconditioned building next door which is within the same prison facility.   

Additionally, although due to her circumstances she has been very fragile for a long time however she has NOT given up hope and she continues to stand for her rights with a great will to live. Delara Darabi does NOT wish or “beg to be executed”. Delara, her family and advocates will continue to fight for her right to live nor condon any dramatization and rumors giving any indication to the regime in Iran that her being ”executed” is an option.  Delara Darabi MUST and will live.  

Amnesty UK members take action to save Delara Darabi

Source: Gazzette Correspondent , UK

During their annual meeting, members of the Amnesty International of Taunton, UK “took part in an activity to make a banner of goodwill for Delara Darabi, an Iranian citizen, who has been given the death penalty for an alleged crime that occurred when she was 17. Iran have agreed not to execute child offenders, and new evidence has come to light which could prove the innocence of Delara. It’s hoped this action which is being replicated by local groups around the country, will encourage the authorities in Iran to review her case. “

"Delara’s innocence is as clear as a day to me": Delara's attorney

This morning Nazanin Afshin-Jam spoke with Abdolsamad Khramshahi, the counsel for Delara Darabi about the recent developments.

Mr. Khoramshahi stated that as far as he is concerned, the fact that Delara’s ex-boyfriend Amir Hossein has accepted the charges of being an accomplice to the murder is an attempt on his part to avoid the truth coming out of the appeal process. Mr., Khoramshahi questioned otherwise why would someone who claimed to be innocent would be willing to spend 13 years of his life in prison? Khoramshahi said this shows Amir Hossein’s true character as someone who is willing to see Delara executed than facing the consequences of his own action. Delara’s attorney explained that in his view the decision of Amir Hossein to no longer pursue the appeal would play a positive role in public opinion as to innocence of Delara Darabi.

When he was asked why the two cases were being handled separate from each other, he referred to the history of the case that he became Delara’s attorney two years after Delara’s imprisonment when her initial execution order was already issued. Khoramshahi said that Delara’s previous attorney had not even appeared in the first court and only the attorney for Amir Hossein was present there and the judge instead of issuing a continuance had asked 17-year-old Delara to defend herself in a life and death case!!

Khoramshahi explained that after he was assigned as the attorney he appealed the initial ruling and told the court that Delara could not have been the cause, because she is left-handed. In response the judge had promised  that If it was proven to him that Delara is left-handed he would reconsider the verdict. Khoramshahi asked the court to make necessary inquiries from experts, interview Delara’s school teachers etc to verify that she is left handed.  Five months later although the judge verified that Delara is left handed but despite his promise he mysteriously still confirmed the death sentence! According to Mr. Khoramshahi therefore the case was already determined at that time.

When asked about the reason behind the continuous denial of reenactment of the crime scene, he explained that “ I have played the scene in my mind numerous times and it is so obvious to me that Delara could not have been the cause of the murder”. “According to Amir Hossein’s defense he claimed to have been holding the victim from the back while Delara was stabbing the victim while standing behind Amir Hossein. The stabbing was done on the right side of the victim. “ How could Delara so easily reach the victim to cause 14 wounds while she was behind Amir Hossein? And Considering that supposedly the victim’s back was to Delara how could Delara cause the wounds to the right side of victim with her left hand.

“Delara is a very fragile and delicate girl and an artist. The 14 wounds were deep, she could not have caused them”. Mr., Khoramshahi also brought up the lack of financial and personal motive for killing her father’s cousin.

“Based on available the evidences even a child can conclude that Delara is not guilty. I am not intending to make a hero out of Delara. It is obvious that when someone is murdered justice must be served. I can not even see an ant get killed, but also Delara’s innocence is as clear as a day to me”.

Khoramshahi is still hopeful that based on the available evidences and other deficiencies in judiciary procedures, the head of judiciary Ayatollah Shahrudi would order a new trial. This remains to be Delara’s last hope.

Mr. Khoramshahi also repeated his view that until the parliamentary bill to stop child executions in Iran is passed and until it becomes a law, Iran judiciary should halt all child executions.

Khoramshahi also thanked Nazanin Afshin-Jam, SCE Campaign and everyone who has been trying to raise awareness about Delara Darabi and other children facing execution in Iran.     

Delara Darabi's case less promising due to obvious injustice

According to Etemaad Newspaper , Amir Hossein, Delara’s boyfriend withdrew his case appeal. Amir Hossein was accused of assisting Delara Darabi in murder of her family member, theft and intimate relationship with Delara. After the initial hearings Amir Hossein was sentenced to 10 year imprisonment for being the accomplice to murder and was required to pay additional fines for the theft and his relationship (not allowed by Islamic Sharia). 

He had appealed the verdict about assisting with the murder and the therefore file was send to the appeal court,  however his attorney later notified the appeal court that Amir Hossein has accepted all the charges.

Therefore the appeal court issued the final verdict of 13 years imprisonment and flogging. 

 * * *

Stop Child Executions Campaign condemns the review of Amir Hossein and Delara Darabi case independent of each other and in different courts as they both were present at the scene and therefore the case must have been reviewed simultaneously because the decision and outcome of one verdict would have direct affect on the other.

The acceptance of the current charges by Amir Hossein was an obvious attempt under advise of his attorney to end the case to his benefit and therefore now Delara Darabi is the only person accused of murder as Amir Hossein’s case is considered finalized.

Review of Delara and Amir Hossein’s case independent of one another is a clear indication of unfair trial in favor of one accused versus another. The FACT remains that they both were present at the scene and therefore making separate decisions for the same crime is an obvious ground for inaccurate decision making process, unfair reviews and preferential treatments.

We at SCE campaign are extremely concerned about the upcoming outcome of Delara’s case due to the improper handling of this case.  

Please note that we have had other independent verfication of this news except what was written in Etemmad newspaper today and we will provide more update as soon as available.

 Source: Etemaad Newspaper

اميرحسين محکوميتش را پذيرفت  

گروه حوادث؛ همدست جوان دل آرا دختر نقاش متهم به قتل که به راي صادره دادگاه اعتراض کرده بود، اعتراض خود را پس گرفت. به گزارش خبرنگار ما، اميرحسين پسر جواني که متهم به   معاونت در قتل و سرقت اموال زني به نام مهين و رابطه نامشروع با دل آرا بود، پس از محاکمه به 10 سال حبس از سوي دادگاه بدوي و حبس و جزاي نقدي در خصوص سرقت و رابطه نامشروع محکوم شد. او بدون اعتراض به حکم صادره در خصوص معاونت در قتل به ساير احکام اعتراض کرد و پرونده براي رسيدگي در اين خصوص به دادگاه تجديد نظر فرستاده شد، اما مدتي بعد وکيل مدافع اميرحسين اعتراض خود را پس گرفت و اعلام کرد موکلش همه محکوميت هايش را پذيرفته است. بنابراين اميرحسين بدون اعتراض به آراي صادره به 13 سال حبس و شلاق محکوم شد. دل آرا دارابي دختر نقاش متهم به قتل متهم است سه سال پيش با همدستي امير حسين  دخترعموي پدرش را به قتل رسانده است. دل آرا در جلسه محاکمه اتهام قتل را رد کرد و گفت به خواسته اميرحسين به قتل اعتراف کرده است. در حال حاضر پرونده دل آرا در مرحله استيذان نزد رئيس قوه قضائيه است و اميدهاي تازه براي نقض حکم قصاص او به وجود آمده است

Ottawa 'concerned' about Canadian's facing executions in Saudi Arabia

Canada’s top diplomat said yesterday he fears two Canadian brothers (one 16 year old) who face beheading in Saudi Arabia for a murder they insist they did not commit may have been mistreated by Saudi authorities.

“We are very concerned about allegations of mistreatment (in Saudi Arabia),” Foreign Minister Peter MacKay said in the House of Commons. “We have made representations to the Saudi government about our concern for their well-being and we will continue to do so,” he said. “As well, we have in the past expressed our concerns (to the Saudis) about allegations of torture.”

“Consular officials of the Canadian Embassy in Riyadh are following this case by maintaining contact with local authorities,” who are visiting the two men, Foreign Affairs spokesman Rodney Moore told the Canadian Press on Wednesday.

“While Saudi Arabia repeatedly states that they are vehemently against the torture of accused individuals, allegations have been made of abuse and coercion,” McKay said. “Our officials should therefore request an immediate medical examination of Sultan and Mohamed Kohail.”

Bryon Wilfert, Canadian Member of Parliament asked the Minister of Foreign Affairs if any Canadian officials have visited these two brothers, what condition are they in and what is being done to ensure that these Canadian citizens receive due process. The Minister indicated that there have been four visits now with the boys in Saudi Arabia and they are very concerned about allegations of mistreatment there. He did not indicate the condition of the boys. “This is a very time sensitive issue and I urge the Minister of Foreign Affairs to monitor the treatment of the boys and ensure that they receive proper treatment,” said Wilfert.

Mohamed Kohail, 22, of Palestinian heritage and his 16-year-old brother Sultan are accused of killing a Syrian youth in a vicious schoolyard brawl in Jeddah. 

The brothers, both Canadian citizens of Palestinian extraction, lived in Montreal for five years before moving back to Saudi Arabia, where they were born and raised, to be closer to an ill relative. A Montreal teacher who knew Mohamed Kohail said school staff were shocked and distraught at the news that their former charge is now in prison. The report “doesn’t really match anything that we know about Mohamed,” guidance counsellor Barry Gaiptman said. “We had never seen any indication of an aggressive side,” said Gaiptman, who works at Place Cartier Adult Education Centre in Beaconsfield, where Mohamed attended class. “On the contrary, I found him to be polite and a straight-up guy.” For more information visit our posts on June 3 and June 4, 2007.        

Foreign Minister McKay with Nazanin Afshin-Jam discussing human rights in April 2007.

To Delara Darabi

I still believe in life
where the smiles of colors on the body of paper
paints the words of love
with my nostalgic sentiments

I love the pulse of earth in the spring
for its blossoms have crossed the winter
to plant its flowers on the walls of my impatience

I still believe in living life
as I avoid counting the pulses
of the visiting prisoners

I despise execution of love
along the noose
above the stool of death

I adore the laughter of love
as it defines freedom
in the extension of history

I wish to embrace love
with all its colors
for it awaits the caress of my touch

I trust my hands with you
to translate kindness with words of freedom 
to define the justice in my life
for the small world of my glances
under the blue sky of my colors

I am afraid of justice of Quran
on the small surface of my body
I am scared of passing the line
that ends on top the execution stool
I despise this wall of impatience
for it is hauling the word of prison

I experience Life with its words
Freedom with depth of its screams
Humanity with its kindness
War deep within its shame
Love with all its colors
Prison in the black of my eyes
Resistance in the silence of my loneliness
Peace in its spring like smiles

and I am in love with the colors of life
like the flights of birds to infinity 
I am the prisoner of colors !

From a Persian poem by Y. safaei

Voice of America TV & Radio Iran broadcast discuss Delara Darabi

Today Voice of America Television and radio - Persian program- in its news commentary «تفسير خبر» dedicated one hour program to human rights violation in Iran (نقض حقوق بشر در جمهوری اسلامی) .

Delara Darabi was one of the cases that was addressed by the program guests. VOA Persian is widely watched in Iran via TV Satellite and internet. To view the broadcast in Persian click :

WINDOWS MEDIA PLAYER     or       REAL PLAYER     (Delara Darabi:  minute 30 )