Iran: Juvenile offender not executed
Further information on UA: 71/08 Index: MDE 13/128/2009
The execution of Mohammad Reza Haddadi, a 21-year-old man, scheduled for 9 December, did not take place. No new execution date has been announced. He is held in Adelabad prison in Shiraz, southern Iran. Juvenile offenders have previously been executed without prior warning to their lawyers.
Mohammad Reza Haddadiwas sentenced to death in 2004 for a murder he allegedly committed when he was 15 years old. He denies being involved in the murder. His death sentence was confirmed by the Supreme Court in July 2005. He was first scheduled for execution in October 2008, but it was stayed on the order of the Head of the Judiciary. His execution was then scheduled on 27 May 2009 and 16 July 2009.
Amnesty International is concerned that the prison authorities may go ahead with the execution without informing his lawyers in advance, as required under Iranian law. Two juvenile offenders, Behnam Zare’ and Reza Hejazi, were executed in Adelabad prison in August 2008 without their lawyer being informed.
Execution of those under the age of 18 at the time of their alleged offence is strictly prohibited by international law.
PLEASE WRITE IMMEDIATELY in Persian, Arabic, English, French or your own language:
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Welcoming the fact that Mohammad Reza Haddadi’s execution did not take place, and urging the authorities to commute his death sentence without delay;
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Calling on the authorities to commute all other death sentences imposed on those under 18 years old at the time of their alleged offence;
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Reminding the authorities that Iran is a state party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), both of which prohibit the use of the death penalty against people convicted of crimes committed when they were under 18 years old.
PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 20 JANUARY 2010 TO:
Leader of the Islamic Republic
Ayatollah Sayed ‘Ali Khamenei,
The Office of the Supreme Leader
Islamic Republic Street – End of Shahid Keshvar Doust Street
Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Email: [email protected]
via website: http://www.leader.ir/langs/en/index.php?p=letter (English)
http://www.leader.ir/langs/fa/index.php?p=letter(Persian)
Salutation: Your Excellency
Head of the Judiciary
Ayatollah Sadeqh Larijani
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: Via website: http://www.dadiran.ir/tabid/75/Default.aspx
First starred box: your given name; second starred box: your family name; third: your email address
Salutation: Your Excellency
And copies to:
Director, Human Rights Headquarters of Iran
Mohammad Javad Larijani
Howzeh Riassat-e Ghoveh Ghazaiyeh
Pasteur St, Vali Asr Ave., south of Serah-e Jomhuri
Tehran 1316814737
Islamic Republic of Iran
Fax: +98 21 3390 4986
Email: [email protected] (In the subject line: FAO Mohammad Javad Larijani)
Salutation: Dear Mr Larijani
Also send copies to diplomatic representatives of Iran accredited to your country. Please check with your section office if sending appeals after the above date. This is the eighth update of UA 71/08 (MDE 13/049/2008). Further information:http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/MDE13/049/2008/en,http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/MDE13/120/2008/en,http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/MDE13/151/2008/en,http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/MDE13/048/2009/en,http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/MDE13/049/2009/en,http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/MDE13/070/2009/en,http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/MDE13/086/2009/en andhttp://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/MDE13/126/2009/en
URGENT ACTION
JUVENILE OFFENDER not executed
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Mohammad Reza Haddadi was sentenced to death in 2004 for a murder he allegedly committed when he was 15. He confessed to the murder, but retracted the confession during his trial, saying he had claimed responsibility for the killing only because his two co-defendants had offered to give his family money if he did so. During the trial he said that he had not taken part in the murder. His co-defendants later supported Mohammad Reza Haddadi's claims of innocence, and withdrew their testimony that had implicated him. They were both over 18 years old at the time of the crime and received prison sentences. Mohammad Reza Haddadi’s death sentence was confirmed by the Supreme Court in July 2005. He was first scheduled for execution in October 2008, but it was stayed on the order of the Head of the Judiciary. On 27 May 2009, the Head of the Judiciary had halted the execution of Mohammad Reza Haddadi, which was scheduled to take place that day in Adelabad prison in Shiraz. The Head of the Judiciary had ordered Branch 17 of the Supreme Court to conduct a review of the case. Although no trial sessions had been held, the execution was nevertheless scheduled again for 16 July 2009.
Behnam Zare’ was featured in UA 230/07 (MDE 13/109/2007) and follow-ups.
Since 1990 Iran has executed at least 45 people convicted of crimes committed when they were under 18 years old. Eight of these executions were in 2008 and three in 2009. Since January 2009 Iran has executed at least four people for crimes they were alleged to have committed when under the age of 18. Most recently, Behnoud Shojaee was executed on 11 October, for allegedly killing another youth when only 17 years old. His execution had previously been postponed six times.
The execution of juvenile offenders is prohibited under international law, including Article 6(5) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), to which Iran is a state party, and so has undertaken not to execute anyone for crimes committed when they were under 18 years old.
In Iran a person convicted of murder has no right to seek pardon or commutation from the state, in violation of Article 6(4) of the ICCPR. The family of a murder victim have the right either to insist on execution, or to pardon the killer and receive financial compensation (diyeh).
For more information about executions of juveniles in Iran, please see Iran: The last executioner of children (MDE 13/059/2007), http://web.amnesty.org/library/index/engmde130592007.
Further information on UA: 71/08 Index: MDE 13/128/2009 Issue Date: 09 December 2009