Iran: Fear of torture/Medical concern: Majid Movahedi (m)
PUBLIC AI Index: MDE 13/021/2009
UA 75/09 Fear of torture/Medical concern
IRAN Majid Movahedi (m), aged 27
Majid Movahedi has been sentenced to be blinded in both eyes with acid. The Supreme Court upheld the sentence at the beginning of February. On 11 March, a judge in the Office for the Implementation of Sentences spoke about the case, raising fears that the punishment could be carried out any time now. The Head of the Judiciary has the power to order a halt to the implementation of the sentence.
On 3 November 2004 Majid Movahedi poured a bucket of acid on Ameneh Bahrami's head as she was leaving work, after she had rejected his marriage proposal several times. Two weeks after the attack Majid Movahedi turned himself in to the police. During a preliminary hearing, he acknowledged attacking Ameneh Bahrami and was detained to await trial. Since then Ameneh Bahrami has undergone 17 operations, some by surgeons in Spain, in an unsuccessful attempt to reconstruct her face. Her injuries led to the loss of one eye and although she recovered 40% of her sight in the remaining eye, an infection in 2007 left her totally blind. On 26 November 2008 a Criminal Court in Tehran sentenced Majid Movahedi to qesas (retribution in kind), ordering that five drops of the same chemical be placed in each of his eyes. Ameneh Bahrami has consistently demanded retribution for her injuries, and is insisting that the punishment be carried. She has stated that he will be anaesthetized and will therefore not feel pain, suggesting that medical professionals will be involved in the implementation of this sentence.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
In Iran, if someone causes "premeditated injury," under Article 272 of the Penal Code, the sentence is retaliation or "retribution in kind." Articles 283 to 286 concern retaliation for loss of sight. Article 26 of the Regulations governing the Implementation of qesassentences requires the presence of a doctor at the implementation of sentences passed under Article 272 of the Penal Code. Under Article 15 of the Regulations, "Officers carrying out the sentence are obliged to carefully inspect and examine the implementation equipment and tools, and make sure that they are robust and ready for use to carry out the sentence. The equipment should be in a state that does not inflict torture, harm or mutilation in excess of what carrying out the sentence would entail. Also, all the implementation actions should be carried out by expert people in a calm manner and without using violence."
Under Iranian law, cases of qesas are treated as a private dispute between two civil parties, and Iranian officials maintain that the state’s role is onlyto facilitate the resolution of the dispute through the judicial process. Therefore in this case Ameneh Bahrami has the right to insist on the implementation of the sentence of qesasor to pardon her attacker and accept diyeh (compensation). The sentence is therefore not open to pardon or amnesty by the Supreme Leader, but the Head of the Judiciary has the power to order a halt to the implementation of the sentence. However, under international law, Iran remains fully responsible for respecting an protecting the rights of those under its jurisdiction, irrespective of the role that private parties may play in the administration of justice. In a case of qesas, Iran must respect the rights of any individual by ensuring that the process it facilitates does not allow for the offender to be subjected to torture or other ill-treatment.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible, in Persian, English, Arabic or your own language:
- stating that Amnesty International recognizes the right and responsibility of governments to bring to justice those suspected of criminal offences, but opposes punishments which constitute cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment amounting to torture, such as the blinding with acid to which Majid Movahedi has been sentenced;
- expressing concern that carrying out this punishment would be contrary to international law, including the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and to international codes of medical ethics such as the UN Principles of Medical Ethics and the World Medical Association's Declarations of Geneva and Tokyo;
- urging the authorities to abolish punishments such as blinding and all other forms of corporal punishment, which constitute cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment amounting to torture, so as to bring Iran's domestic law and practice into line with its obligations under international law such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
APPEALS TO:
Head of the Judiciary
His Excellency Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi
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: [email protected] (In the subject line write: FAO Ayatollah Shahroudi)
Salutation: Your Excellency
COPIES TO:
Leader of the Islamic Republic
Ayatollah Sayed ‘Ali Khamenei
The Office of the Supreme Leader
End of Shahid Keshvar Doust Street
Islamic Republic 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
Director, Human Rights Headquarters of Iran
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
Fax: +98 21 3390 4986 (please keep trying)
Email: [email protected] (In the subject line: FAO Director, Human Rights Headquarters)
Salutation: Dear Sir
Minister of Health and Medical Education
His Excellency Dr Kamran Baqeri Lankarani
Ministry of Health
Jomhouri-ye Eslami Avenue
Hafez Crossing
Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Fax: +98 21 8836 4100 (unreliable; please try three times and if it fails please send email)
Email: [email protected]/ [email protected]/ [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 24 April 2009.