{"id":3393540,"date":"2008-07-25T19:49:04","date_gmt":"2008-07-25T11:49:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.stopchildexecutions.com\/scenewsarchive\/?p=3393540"},"modified":"2023-04-13T05:16:47","modified_gmt":"2023-04-13T05:16:47","slug":"amnesty-international-urgent-call-to-save-soghra-najafpour","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.stopchildexecutions.com\/scenewsarchive\/2008\/07\/25\/amnesty-international-urgent-call-to-save-soghra-najafpour\/","title":{"rendered":"Amnesty International urgent call to save Soghra Najafpour"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
<\/div>\n

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL                                                                                                            PUBLIC    <\/span>   
<\/span>AI Index: MDE13\/098\/2008       <\/span><\/font><\/span>                                                                                                  <\/span> 25 July 2008
<\/font><\/strong><\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/strong><\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

Further Information on 271\/07 (MDE\/124\/2007, 23 October 2007) Death Penalty\/Fear of Imminent Execution<\/u><\/font><\/strong><\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

                                                                                             <\/strong><\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

IRAN   <\/span> Soghra Najafpour (f), aged 31<\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/font><\/span>Soghra Najafpour has been sentenced to death, for the second time, for a murder which took place when she was only 13 years old. She is in prison in the northern city of Rasht, where she has spent most of the last 19 years.
<\/font><\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

Soghra Najafpour was released on bail of 600 million Iranian rials (almost<\/span> US$66,000)<\/span> on 1 October 2007. She returned to prison later that month to comply with a summons which followed a new demand by the family of the murder victim for her execution to be carried out after they heard of her release.
<\/span><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

On 23 October 2007, Soghra Najafpour’s lawyer petitioned the Office of the Head of the Judiciary to reinvestigate her case on account of serious flaws, following which her sentence of qesas<\/i> (retribution) was overturned by the Supreme Court. The case was sent back for retrial in another branch of the General Court in Rasht. At the second trial, she was again found guilty and sentenced to qesas<\/i> and remains at risk of execution.<\/span>
<\/span><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

At the age of nine, Soghra Najafpour was sent by her family to work as a servant in a doctor’s home in the city of Rasht. After Soghra Najafpour had been working for the family for four years, the eight-year-old son of the family went missing. She was accused of the boy’s murder when his body was found in a well a few days later. Soghra Najafpour initially denied the murder, but after repeated interrogation, confessed to committing it. Her confession was taken as proof of her guilt and she was sentenced to qesas<\/i>.
<\/font><\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

In Soghra Najafpour’s appeal against her sentence she wrote,<\/span> \u201cI didn’t kill the eight-year-old boy, but I know who killed him and because of his request, I had to be silent. He had promised to get the victim\u2019s mother to forgive me and to save me.\u201d She added, \u201cWhen I was nine, I was raped, and with the threats I received, I was forced to be silent, and on the day of the accident, I had a storeroom to clean and the same man who abused me came looking for me, and the boy, who was playing, came into the storeroom all of a sudden and saw me being abused. That man threw the boy against the wall and, in one instant, his head hit the wall and he lost consciousness. I couldn’t move the boy\u2019s corpse, but that man wanted me to throw the body in the well.\u201d
<\/span><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

Her appeal was rejected and following a medical examination, Soghra Najafpour also received a sentence of flogging<\/span> for fornication, despite her claim to have been raped. <\/span><\/span> The man she had claimed was her abuser was acquitted because he did not confess to raping her<\/span> and there was no other evidence to prove he was the perpetrator. <\/span>
<\/span><\/span><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/font><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

On two occasions, when Soghra Najafpour was 17 and 21, she was taken to be executed but the family of the victim changed their minds at the last minute.<\/span> Soghra Najafpour will continue to seek to prove her innocence<\/span><\/font>.
<\/span><\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

BACKGROUND INFORMATION
<\/font><\/font><\/span><\/h2>\n

International law strictly prohibits the use of the death penalty against people convicted of crimes committed when they were under 18. As a state party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, Iran has undertaken not to execute child offenders. However, since 1990, Iran has executed at least 33 child offenders, including at least two in 2008. Almost 140 juvenile offenders are believed to be on death row in Iran, the vast majority convicted of murder.
<\/font><\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

For more information see Iran: The Last Executioner of children<\/i> (Index MDE 13\/059\/2007) and Iran:<\/i><\/span> Spare four youths from execution, immediately enforce international prohibition on death penalty for juvenile offenders<\/span><\/i> (http:\/\/www.amnesty.org\/en\/for-media\/press-releases\/iran-spare-four-youths-execution-immediately-enforce-international-prohi<\/font><\/span><\/a>).<\/span>
<\/span><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/h2>\n

 <\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible, in Persian, Arabic, English, French or your own language:<\/font><\/span>\n<\/div>\n

\n– urging the authorities to overturn the death sentence imposed on Soghra Najafpour, should it be upheld on appeal;
<\/font><\/font><\/span>– reminding the authorities that Iran is a state party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which prohibit the use of the death penalty against people convicted of crimes committed when they were under 18, and that the execution of Soghra Najafpour would therefore be a violation of international law;
<\/span><\/font><\/font><\/span>– calling for the authorities to pass legislation to abolish the death penalty for offences committed by anyone under the age of 18, so as to bring Iran\u2019s domestic law into line with its obligations under international law;
<\/font><\/font><\/span>– stating that Amnesty International acknowledges the right and responsibility of governments to bring to justice those suspected of criminal offences, but unconditionally opposes the death penalty;
<\/font><\/font><\/span>– expressing concern that Soghra Najafpour was flogged for having an illicit relationship after alleging that she was raped repeatedly from the age of nine and urging the authorities to end the practice of flogging, which is a cruel punishment which amounts to torture. Amnesty International is particularly concerned that a child who alleged she was raped was herself prosecuted and punished for committing zina<\/i> (fornication).
<\/font><\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

APPEALS TO:
<\/font><\/font><\/span><\/h2>\n

Head of the Judiciary
<\/font><\/font><\/span><\/u>Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi
<\/font><\/font><\/span>Howzeh Riyasat-e Qoveh Qazaiyeh \/ Office of the Head of the Judiciary
<\/font><\/font><\/span>Pasteur St., Vali Asr Ave., south of Serah-e Jomhouri, Tehran 1316814737, Islamic Republic of Iran
<\/font><\/font><\/span>Email:                   <\/span> info@dadgostary-tehran.ir (In the subject line write: FAO Ayatollah Shahroudi)
<\/font><\/font><\/span><\/b>Salutation:         <\/span> Your Excellency
<\/font><\/font><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

COPIES TO:
<\/font><\/font><\/span><\/h2>\n

Leader of the Islamic Republic
<\/font><\/font><\/span><\/u>His Excellency Ayatollah Sayed \u2018Ali Khamenei
<\/font><\/font><\/span>The Office of the Supreme Leader, Islamic Republic Street – Shahid Keshvar Doust Street
<\/font><\/font><\/span>Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
<\/font><\/font><\/span>Email:                   <\/span> info@leader.ir
<\/font><\/font><\/span><\/b>Salutation:         <\/span> Your Excellency
<\/font><\/font><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/font><\/span><\/span><\/u><\/p>\n

Director, Human Rights Headquarters of Iran
<\/font><\/font><\/span><\/u>His Excellency Mohammad Javad Larijani
<\/font><\/font><\/span>C\/o Office of the Deputy for International Affairs
<\/font><\/font><\/span>Ministry of Justice,
<\/font><\/font><\/span> Ministry of Justice Building, Panzdah-Khordad (Ark) Square,
<\/font><\/font><\/span> Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
<\/font><\/font><\/span>
\nand to diplomatic representatives of Iran accredited to your country.
<\/font><\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY.<\/span><\/b> Check with the International Secretariat, or your section office, if sending appeals after 05 September.
<\/span><\/font><\/font>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

<\/div>\n

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL                                                                                                            PUBLIC    <\/span>   
<\/span>AI Index: MDE13\/098\/2008       <\/span><\/font><\/span>                                                                                                  <\/span> 25 July 2008
<\/font><\/strong><\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/strong><\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

Further Information on 271\/07 (MDE\/124\/2007, 23 October 2007) Death Penalty\/Fear of Imminent Execution<\/u><\/font><\/strong><\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

                                                                                             <\/strong><\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

IRAN   <\/span> Soghra Najafpour (f), aged 31<\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/font><\/span>Soghra Najafpour has been sentenced to death, for the second time, for a murder which took place when she was only 13 years old. She is in prison in the northern city of Rasht, where she has spent most of the last 19 years.
<\/font><\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

Soghra Najafpour was released on bail of 600 million Iranian rials (almost<\/span> US$66,000)<\/span> on 1 October 2007. She returned to prison later that month to comply with a summons which followed a new demand by the family of the murder victim for her execution to be carried out after they heard of her release.
<\/span><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

On 23 October 2007, Soghra Najafpour’s lawyer petitioned the Office of the Head of the Judiciary to reinvestigate her case on account of serious flaws, following which her sentence of qesas<\/i> (retribution) was overturned by the Supreme Court. The case was sent back for retrial in another branch of the General Court in Rasht. At the second trial, she was again found guilty and sentenced to qesas<\/i> and remains at risk of execution.<\/span>
<\/span><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

At the age of nine, Soghra Najafpour was sent by her family to work as a servant in a doctor’s home in the city of Rasht. After Soghra Najafpour had been working for the family for four years, the eight-year-old son of the family went missing. She was accused of the boy’s murder when his body was found in a well a few days later. Soghra Najafpour initially denied the murder, but after repeated interrogation, confessed to committing it. Her confession was taken as proof of her guilt and she was sentenced to qesas<\/i>.
<\/font><\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

In Soghra Najafpour’s appeal against her sentence she wrote,<\/span> \u201cI didn’t kill the eight-year-old boy, but I know who killed him and because of his request, I had to be silent. He had promised to get the victim\u2019s mother to forgive me and to save me.\u201d She added, \u201cWhen I was nine, I was raped, and with the threats I received, I was forced to be silent, and on the day of the accident, I had a storeroom to clean and the same man who abused me came looking for me, and the boy, who was playing, came into the storeroom all of a sudden and saw me being abused. That man threw the boy against the wall and, in one instant, his head hit the wall and he lost consciousness. I couldn’t move the boy\u2019s corpse, but that man wanted me to throw the body in the well.\u201d
<\/span><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

Her appeal was rejected and following a medical examination, Soghra Najafpour also received a sentence of flogging<\/span> for fornication, despite her claim to have been raped. <\/span><\/span> The man she had claimed was her abuser was acquitted because he did not confess to raping her<\/span> and there was no other evidence to prove he was the perpetrator. <\/span>
<\/span><\/span><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/font><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

On two occasions, when Soghra Najafpour was 17 and 21, she was taken to be executed but the family of the victim changed their minds at the last minute.<\/span> Soghra Najafpour will continue to seek to prove her innocence<\/span><\/font>.
<\/span><\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

BACKGROUND INFORMATION
<\/font><\/font><\/span><\/h2>\n

International law strictly prohibits the use of the death penalty against people convicted of crimes committed when they were under 18. As a state party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, Iran has undertaken not to execute child offenders. However, since 1990, Iran has executed at least 33 child offenders, including at least two in 2008. Almost 140 juvenile offenders are believed to be on death row in Iran, the vast majority convicted of murder.
<\/font><\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

For more information see Iran: The Last Executioner of children<\/i> (Index MDE 13\/059\/2007) and Iran:<\/i><\/span> Spare four youths from execution, immediately enforce international prohibition on death penalty for juvenile offenders<\/span><\/i> (http:\/\/www.amnesty.org\/en\/for-media\/press-releases\/iran-spare-four-youths-execution-immediately-enforce-international-prohi<\/font><\/span><\/a>).<\/span>
<\/span><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/h2>\n

 <\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible, in Persian, Arabic, English, French or your own language:<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[9,13,30,10],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stopchildexecutions.com\/scenewsarchive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3393540"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stopchildexecutions.com\/scenewsarchive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stopchildexecutions.com\/scenewsarchive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stopchildexecutions.com\/scenewsarchive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stopchildexecutions.com\/scenewsarchive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3393540"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.stopchildexecutions.com\/scenewsarchive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3393540\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5195835,"href":"https:\/\/www.stopchildexecutions.com\/scenewsarchive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3393540\/revisions\/5195835"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stopchildexecutions.com\/scenewsarchive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3393540"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stopchildexecutions.com\/scenewsarchive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3393540"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stopchildexecutions.com\/scenewsarchive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3393540"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}