The Iranian regime as the foremost executioner of children in the world sentenced to death four young prisoners in Sanandaj Prison who were juveniles at the time of their crimes.
The Iranian Resistance calls on all international human rights agencies, especially the UN Secretary-General, the High Commissioner for Human Rights, and pertinent UN Rapporteurs, as well as the European Union and the U.S. government, to take immediate action to obstruct these cruel executions that contravene many international laws and covenants.
Yousef Mohammadi, 20, and Heeman Orami-nejad, 18, were both 14 years old when they committed their crimes and are now sentenced to death. Siavosh Mahmoudi and Amanej Hosseini (Oveissi) who were arrested when 17 are also at the risk of being hanged. Another young prisoner by the name of Kiomars Nasseiri, also a prisoner in Sanandaj Prison who was arrested when a juvenile, is threatened to be sentenced to death.
Amnesty International said the executions of two prisoners (Fatemeh Salbehi and Samad Zahabi) who were under 18 years of age at the time of committing the crimes “make a mockery of juvenile justice.” AI added, “The use of the death penalty is cruel, and inhumane and degrading in any circumstances, but it is utterly sickening when meted out as a punishment for a crime committed by a person who was under 18 years of age.”
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon also expressed “deep sadness” on October 19, 2015, at the execution of two juvenile prisoners by the Iranian regime. The UNSG statement note, “Over 700 executions are reported to have taken place so far this year,” calling it “the highest total recorded in the past 12 years”. He called on the Iranian regime to establish a moratorium on executions with a view to abolishing the death penalty.
However, the Iranian regime that continuously ratchets up the catastrophic dimensions of suppression to create a climate of terror that especially targets the youth is unable to halt or even ease the waves of suppression, in particular the executions, in order to confront increasing protests and popular loath.
In reaction to worldwide condemnation of egregious and systematic violation of human rights in Iran, head of regime’s judiciary Sadeq Larijani announced: “We shall never retreat from the Sharia Law. The issue of Islamic values relates to the quality of governing of the countries and others have no right to intervene.”
This is despite the fact that the Iranian regime has endorsed international covenants such as the Convention on the Rights of the Child that bar execution of juveniles.
Source: Secretariat of the National Council of Resistance of Iran, October 25, 2015
