FEATURED POST

California | San Quentin begins prison reform - but not for those on death row

Image
California is transferring everyone on death row at San Quentin prison to other places, as it tries to reinvent the state's most notorious facility as a rehabilitation centre. Many in this group will now have new freedoms. But they are also asking why they've been excluded from the reform - and whether they'll be safe in new prisons. Keith Doolin still remembers the day in 2019 when workers came to dismantle one of the United States' most infamous death chambers.

Iran: Life of Juvenile Offender Spared by Victim’s Family

Juvenile offender Ahmad Bahari [who was on death row] had his life spared. He was released from prison today.

By Mohammad Mostafaei

At the age of 15, Ahmad Bahari was charged with first-degree murder for the death of Abolfazl Ramazani. Since November 13, 2006, Ahmad Bahari was detained in prison. My client’s family and others sought to obtain a pardon for the life of Ahmad Bahari. Finally, the victim’s family, Morteza Ramazani and Fatemeh Koorgoli, forgave Ahmad Bahari and ultimately saved him from execution [editor's note: the term used in the Farsi text is retribution, which is the Islamic regime's word for execution]. With the decision of the judges in branch 71 of the provincial criminal court, Ahmad Bahari was released.

After his arrest on November 13, 2006, my client stated: “I was sitting at home when Saeed, the slain victim, came to my home with the hopes of starting a conflict. He attacked me with a long knife and wounded my left hand and I fell to the floor. After a second strike, this time to my back, I defended myself by stabbing Saeed in the chest with a knife. He fell to the floor.”

Ahmad Bahari has claimed self defense throughout the [legal] process.

Three of the judges in branch 71 of the provincial criminal court issued an execution sentence for Bahari and two other judges considered Bahari’s crime an act of self defense. Finally, branch 11 of Iran’s Supreme Court, taking into consideration the defense and the contents of my client’s file issued by the provincial criminal court, confirmed the final judgment.

Again, I would like to thank everyone, especially the victim’s family, who made the pardon possible.

Source: Persian2English, Translation by: Maryam | Persian2English.com, March 14, 2010

Most Viewed (Last 7 Days)

‘A Short Film About Killing’: The movie that brought an end to the Polish death penalty

California | San Quentin begins prison reform - but not for those on death row

Bali | British grandmother on death row for more than 10 years for drug smuggling given ‘one final hope of escape'

Congo reinstates death penalty after 20-year hiatus

Georgia Court Case Tests the Limits of Execution Secrecy in the United States

Georgia | Death penalty trial for accused Atlanta spa shooter in limbo

Iran | Man executed in Qazvin

USA | Journalist Recalls Witnessing an Execution and Describes the Importance of Media Witnesses: Op-Ed

Malaysia | Death sentence commuted for ex-cop who killed toddler, babysitter