Rights group condemns execution of juvenile offender in Iran

12-17-2009 Iran:

Amnesty International on Thursday condemned the execution of a juvenile offender in Iran, which constituted at least the fifth such execution in 2009.

Mosleh Zamani was hanged this morning at Dizel Abad Prison in the western city of Kermanshah, along with four other unidentified prisoners, said the London-based human rights organization.

In 2006, he was sentenced to death for allegedly raping his girlfriend when he was 17.

“Once again, despite domestic and international calls for the Iranian authorities to uphold their international obligations, they have executed someone who was under 18 at the time of his alleged crime,” said Philip Luther, deputy director of the group’s Middle East and North Africa program.

Today’s execution brings the number of alleged juvenile offenders executed in Iran since 1990 to at least 46, according to Amnesty International.

Iran is a signatory to two different international treaties which prohibit the use of the death penalty against juvenile offenders.

The Islamic Republic is one of very few countries in the world that still execute juvenile offenders, according to Amnesty International.

“How many more will die before Iran stops this dreadful practice,” said Luther.

According to the rights group, Zamani was convicted of abducting a woman several years older than him, with whom he was allegedly having a relationship, and raping her.

His alleged victim is said to have asked that Zamani’s life be spared, stating that they had consensual sex.

However, the appeals court judge refused to take that into consideration, stating that Zamani should be executed to “set an example” to other young Iranians.

Some 140 juvenile offenders are known to be on death row in Iran. ..Source.. Source: Amnesty International website