Abdorrahman Boroumand Center

for Human Rights in Iran

https://www.iranrights.org
Promoting tolerance and justice through knowledge and understanding
Amnesty International

Iran: Execution scheduled for juvenile offender: Mohammad Reza Haddadi (m): Further information

Amnesty International
December 7, 2009
Appeal/Urgent Action

Further information on UA: 71/08 Index: MDE 13/126/2009

The execution of Mohammad Reza Haddadi, a 21-year-old man, has been scheduled in the city of Shiraz, southern Iran, on 9 December. He has been sentenced to death for a crime he allegedly committed while under the age of 18. This is the fourth time his execution has been scheduled and only the Head of the Judiciary can now alter the outcome of the case.

According to judicial officials in Shiraz, Mohammad Reza Haddadi has been moved to the “quaranteen” section of Adelabad prison, in preparation for his execution. However on 6 December 2009, Ma’soumeh Tahmasebi, one of Mohammad Reza Haddadi’s lawyers, told Deutsche Welle that she had not been informed of the scheduled execution and that another prisoner had telephoned her client’s father to tell him that his son would be executed. Amnesty International is concerned that the prison authorities in Adelabad prison may go ahead with implementing the execution without prior notification to either his parents or his lawyer, as required under Iranian law.

Mohammad Reza Haddadi was sentenced to death in 2004 for a murder he allegedly committed when he was 15. 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 again on 27 May 2009 and 16 July 2009. There is no further news of Naser Qasemi, who was also sentenced to death for a crime allegedly committed when he was under 18.

PLEASE WRITE IMMEDIATELY in Persian, Arabic, English, French or your own language:

  • calling on the Iranian authorities to halt the execution of Mohammad Reza Haddadi immediately, and commute his death sentence;

  • 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), which prohibit the use of the death penalty against people convicted of crimes committed when they were under 18.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 9 DECEMBER 2009 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 seventh 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 and http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/MDE13/086/2009/en

URGENT ACTION

Execution scheduled FOR juvenile offender

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 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.

Since 1990 Iran has executed at least 45 people convicted of crimes committed when they were under 18. Eight of these executions were in 2008 and three in 2009.

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.

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 13/126/2009 Issue Date: 07 December 2009