Iran: Fear of imminent execution
AI Index: MDE 13/060/2007
UA 126/07 Fear of imminent execution
IRAN Farzad Alizadeh Mohajer (m), also known as Abbas, aged 21
Mohammad Zafari (m)
Farzad Alizadeh Mohajer, also known as Abbas, and Mohammad Zafari are believed to be at imminent risk of execution in the capital, Tehran, after Iran’s Supreme Court upheld their death sentences for raping a young girl.
According to reports, Farzad Alizadeh Mohajer and Mohammad Zafari were sentenced to death by Branch 17 of the Revolutionary Court in the town of Karaj, near Tehran, for the rape of a girl in Karaj in January or February 2005. Their sentences were upheld on appeal on 6 September 2006 by Branch 77 of the Criminal Court in Tehran, and were confirmed by Branch 39 of the Supreme Court. They were reportedly represented by court-appointed lawyers.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Amnesty International opposes the death penalty as the ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment, in violation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which Iran is a state party.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: PLEASE SEND APPEALS TO ARRIVE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE, IN ENGLISH, ARABIC, PERSIAN OR YOUR OWN LANGUAGE:
- urging the authorities immediately to commute the death sentences imposed on Farzad Alizadeh Mohajer and Mohammad Zafari;
- acknowledging that governments have a responsibility to bring to justice those suspected of criminal offences, but stating your unconditional opposition to the death penalty, as the ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment and violation of the right to life.
APPEALS TO:
Leader of the Islamic Republic
His Excellency Ayatollah Sayed ‘Ali Khamenei, The Office of the Supreme Leader
Shoahada Street, Qom, Islamic Republic of Iran
Email: [email protected]
Salutation: Your Excellency
Head of the Judiciary
Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi
Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Justice Building, Panzdah-Khordad Square, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Email: [email protected] (In the subject line write: FAO Ayatollah Shahroudi)
Salutation: Your Excellency
COPIES TO:
President
His Excellency Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
The Presidency, Palestine Avenue, Azerbaijan Intersection, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Email: [email protected]
via website: www.president.ir/email
Salutation: Your Excellency
Speaker of Parliament
His Excellency Gholamali Haddad Adel
Majles-e Shoura-ye Eslami, Baharestan Square, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Email: [email protected]
and to diplomatic representatives of Iran accredited to your country.
PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat, or your section office, if sending appeals after 6 July 2007.