International Committee Against Executions: "Iran

International Committee Against Executions: "Iran - A Government of Killers"

International Committee Against Executions– Since the worldwide protest against the stoning sentence of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, families of others held in Tabriz prison have contacted us with heart-wrenching news about their loved ones. We are disclosing this news so that people throughout the world can better understand the abhorrent nature of [the Iranian] government. We hope that all people will join the people of Iran in combating this repulsive regime.

According to a report by the International Committee Against Executions, there are 170 people sentenced to death in Tabriz prison. The prisoners list includes children and youth and there is 1 woman who is pregnant.

TWO MORE WOMEN SENTENCED TO STONING IN TABRIZ PRISON:

Azar Bagheri, 19 years old, in Tabriz prison: Azar was 15 years old when she was arrested and sentenced to death by stoning for having an extramarital affair. She has lived the past 4 years with the nightmare of knowing she will be stoned. During these 4 years, Azar Bagheri was twice taken for a mock stoning: the prison authorities twice buried this young girl in the soil up to her chest and told her that if she does not cooperate with them, this is what was going to happen to her. Azar was forced into an unwanted marriage at the age of 14, and her husband lodged a complaint against her, saying that she did not love him and had a relationship with another man.

Maryam Ghorbanzadeh, 25 years old, in Tabriz prison: Maryam is also sentenced to death by stoning. Maryam has been in jail for four years. During a short prison leave that she was granted, she got pregnant, and the Islamic Republic sentenced her to death by stoning. Usually they wait for pregnant women to have their babies before they stone them.

18 HOMOSEXUALS SENTENCED TO DEATH BY HANGING:

There is news that in Tabriz prison, there are at least 8 women and 10 men sentenced to death by hanging for being homosexuals.

SUICIDE OF A YOUNG GIRL ON DEATH ROW IN TABRIZ PRISON:

On Friday July 9, 2010, a heavy sadness swept over Tabriz prison. Soudabeh Ahmadi, a 16 year old girl who was sentenced to death for murder, killed herself in her cell. This young child could not tolerate the pain and suffering of counting the moments until the rope would be put around her neck. She killed herself instead.

YOUTH SENTENCED TO DEATH:

20 year old Fariba Shafaat was arrested at the age of 14 for the murder of her father and sentenced to death. On Monday July 12, 2010, we were contacted from Tabriz with the information that the judicial authorities of the Islamic Republic in Tehran have given orders to carry out this sentence. This young woman could be executed at any moment.

This is just one jail and a single example of the unimaginable, primitive actions that the government of the Islamic Republic is taking against the people of Iran. (...)

We ask the people of the world to intensify their pressure on the Islamic Republic. Please demonstrate against this brutal regime in front of their embassies or in the area where you live. Demand a stop to the death sentences being carried out. Demand an end to all death sentences and death by stoning in Iran.

We ask the UN to send representatives to Iran in order to visit the Tabriz prison and other murder houses. This visit needs to be forced upon the Islamic Republic.

International Committee Against Executions

July 13, 2010

Source: Persian2English, July 15, 2010

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