Iran: Amnesty head condemns executions at ‘flowers’ protest
7 May 2009, 10:23AM
Speaking at a gathering of anti-death penalty protestors outside the Iranian embassy in London today, Amnesty International Secretary General Irene Khan said:
“The earth on Delara Darabi's grave has not dried yet as the Iranian authorities prepared to execute two more people who, like her, were accused of having committed crimes when they were still under 18. They were granted a one-month stay of execution this morning. This might not save them from the gallows considering that Delara was executed in spite of a stay of execution by the Head of the Judiciary in Iran.
“The Iranian authorities must put an end to capital punishment - this horrific and inhuman punishment denies both the victim and the perpetrator of their humanity.
“While the world has been moving towards a complete abolition of the death penalty, Iran has been steadily imposing and carrying out capital punishment in defiance of the world trend and to calls from its own people to end the death penalty
“Iran is a party to international treaties that forbid the execution of persons for crimes committed before age 18 - regardless of the crime they may have committed, including murder. Iran must respect its international obligations, stop breaching international law and accept that it is wrong to execute those who may have committed crimes when they were underage.
“Children deserve protection and rehabilitation, not death.”
Amnesty supporters were protesting this afternoon at the scheduled execution in Iran earlier today of two people - Amir Khaleqi and Safar Angooti - who faced execution despite having been convicted of offences that occurred when they were below the age of 18. Such executions are prohibited under international law. In the event, both executions were reportedly postponed for a period of a month.
Just last week, however, Delara Darabi, a 22-year-old Iranian woman who had been convicted of a crime she allegedly committed while aged 17, was executed despite a two-month stay in her case. Her execution has sparked international outrage. Today’s event saw Amnesty laying white lilies in remembrance of Delara Darabi at the door of the Iranian embassy. Irene Khan and scores of Amnesty activists were joined by Alistair Carmichael, Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for the Abolition of the Death Penalty.
Features and analysis
Healthy homelands
An Aboriginal community in the Northern Territory is showing the government how to close the health gap.
Childbirth in Sierra Leone
Many women in Sierra Leone spend the final months of pregnancy and agonising hours of childbirth fearing for their lives.
Harming Children
Professor Louise Newman explains how detaining children on Christmas Island is likely to affect their mental health.
These features are taken from our Human Rights Defender magazine - subscribe free now
By Category
By month
Make an impact
You can make a difference right now. Your action will help shine the light of hope into people's lives across the world.
Check out what 110,729 people are doing right now to support human rights.
Stay Informed
Get Involved
Amnesty International relies on your support to continue our vital work protecting human rights. Please help us keep governments accountable, bring the guilty to justice, and save lives.
Sitewide information
- Copyright © Amnesty International Australia
- ABN: 640 0280 6233
- Phone: 1300 300 920
Comments
Comments are submitted by members of the public and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or positions of Amnesty International Australia. If you find a comment objectionable please contact the web editor.
Dora Snugglepot
19 May 2009, 01:36PM
I believe that capital punishment shouldn’t exist, and it makes me angry to hear that children are being killed because of alleged crimes. Iran should stick to the International treaty that they willingly signed, its an outrage to even hear that this is happening.
Mullah Smith
19 May 2009, 01:19PM
If Iran has agreed to an International Treaty, shouldn’t there be some force implementing their descisions. If a child commits a act of injustice, it should be taken into that the child was under a specific age, and may have had outside influence. At the end of the day a child is a child and in their a eyes a crime may be commited for valid reasons. I am not saying that if a crime was committed that the child should not be punished, but in reality, a child should learn from previous mistakes, not be killed.
Megan Pigott
19 May 2009, 01:12PM
Right on Leigh
Leigh
13 May 2009, 11:01PM
I plead to Iran to stop the execution of children. I also plead to the mighty US of A to have some compassion and stop making decisions based on oil. Come on Obama! Please support Amnesty in their fight for justice and human rights.
Page 1 of 1 pages