Iran: Execution Postponed Again: Further information: Mohammad Reza Haddadi
The execution of Mohammad Reza Haddadi, scheduled for 16 July, has been postponed, and the Head of the Judiciary is not known to have set a new execution date.
This is the fourth time his execution has been postponed.
Mohammad Reza Haddadi was sentenced to death in 2004 for a murder committed when he was 15. He confessed to the murder, but retracted the confession during his trial, saying he had not been involved, but had claimed responsibility for the killing because his two co-defendants had offered to give his family money if he did so. 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. His execution was first scheduled for October 2008, but was stayed on the order of the Head of the Judiciary.
There is no further news of Naser Qasemi who was also sentenced to death for crimes committed when he was under 18.
PLEASE WRITE IMMEDIATELY in Persian, Arabic, English, French or your own language:
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welcoming the postponement of Mohammad Reza Haddadi's execution, and urging that his death sentence is commuted without delay
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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), which prohibit the use of the death penalty against people convicted of crimes committed when they were under 18.
PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 25 SEPTEMBER 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 Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi
c/o Director, Judiciary Public Relations and Information Office
Ardeshir Sadiq
Judiciary Public Relations and Information Office
No. 57, Pasteur St.,
corner of Khosh Zaban Avenue
Tehran, Iran
Email: [email protected] (In the subject line write: FAO Ayatollah Shahroudi)
Salutation: Your Excellency
And copies to:
Judiciary spokesperson
Alireza Jamshidi
Howzeh Riyasat-e Qoveh Qazaiyeh / Office of the Head of the Judiciary
Pasteur St, Vali Asr Ave., south of Serah-e Jomhuri
Tehran 1316814737, Iran
Email: [email protected]
Salutation: Dear Sir
Also send copies to diplomatic representatives accredited to your country. Please check with your section office if sending appeals after the above date.
This is the sixth update of UA: 71/08 MDE 13/049/2008. F
urther information: http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/MDE13/049/2008/en
URGENT ACTION
EXECUTION POSTPONED AGAIN
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Since 1990 Iran has executed at least 44 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 13/086/2009 Issue Date: 14 August 2009