Stop the Execution of Children
Iran is one of the countries that signed the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Charter of the Rights of the Child, forbidding the execution of anyone under the age of 18. Their signatory status is a hoax. Since 1990, Amnesty International has documented the executions of 21 child offenders in Iran.
There are currently at least 33 minors sitting on Iran's death row. Some of them will be held until they are 18 so that they can be executed on their birthday, and the judiciary of Iran can claim their hands are free of the blood of children. The last two known executions of minors took place in Iran on April 22 and May 28 of this year.
In response to the thirst for the blood of children exhibited by Iran's judiciary, the SCE has been created. The Stop Child Executions Campaign is asking us all for our much-needed help. Following this link will allow you to sign their online petition which currently boasts over 6,000 signatures. It will also give you a wealth of information. For instance, while hanging is still used as the official form of capital punishment by more than one country, most of them use the long-drop form. This means the neck is broken immediately. Iran, on the other hand, goes for prolonging any and all suffering they can inflict and so many condemned to death by hanging are hoisted, either by a winch turned by two guards, or by a telescopic crane to maximize the entertainment value if the execution is public. Knowing this, people could be readily excused for thinking that signing the petition is an exercise in futility, but if that's your reaction, let me tell you about Nazanin Mahabad Fatehi. Her case might change your mind.
In March 2005, 17-year-old Nazanin was walking with her 15-year-old niece through a park in Karaj when three men accosted the girls. The men had rape in mind, but Nazanin fought back. She stabbed one of the assailants, killing the man. She was arrested, not the would-be rapists, and on January 3, 2006, she was sentenced to death.
A petition was started and over 345,000 signatures were collected and delivered to both the United Nations and Iranian officials. Amnesty International got involved, as did members of the Canadian Parliament, the European Union and the United Nations. Rallies were held worldwide and with so much international attention being focused on Iran, the Head of Judiciary. Ayatollah Shahroudi announced a stay of execution and scheduled a retrial. Five judges presided over the 2nd trial and found "inconsistencies" in the testimonies of the male witnesses. Nazanin was exonerated but three of the judges ruled that she had used "disproportionate force" in her self-defence and demanded she pay blood-money.
Nazanin's family is poor, and so the payment was an impossibility for them. Being the fair-minded types they are, the judges declared she could simply one set bail sum of 400,000,000 rials or approximately US$43,000. Again, the impossible was being asked but the international community was still there for Nazanin and US$32,000. was given in online donations. The remaining amount was given by Member of Canadian Parliament, Belinda Stronach, and on January 31st, 2007, Nazanin Magabad Fatehi was freed.
Even one story like that of Nazanin proves that there is value in making the effort to pressure Iran into honouring the International Covenant they signed. It won't take much of your time, but it could mean the difference between an abrupt end to life at the end of a rope or the chance to live another day for more than one child in Iran.
There are currently at least 33 minors sitting on Iran's death row. Some of them will be held until they are 18 so that they can be executed on their birthday, and the judiciary of Iran can claim their hands are free of the blood of children. The last two known executions of minors took place in Iran on April 22 and May 28 of this year.
In response to the thirst for the blood of children exhibited by Iran's judiciary, the SCE has been created. The Stop Child Executions Campaign is asking us all for our much-needed help. Following this link will allow you to sign their online petition which currently boasts over 6,000 signatures. It will also give you a wealth of information. For instance, while hanging is still used as the official form of capital punishment by more than one country, most of them use the long-drop form. This means the neck is broken immediately. Iran, on the other hand, goes for prolonging any and all suffering they can inflict and so many condemned to death by hanging are hoisted, either by a winch turned by two guards, or by a telescopic crane to maximize the entertainment value if the execution is public. Knowing this, people could be readily excused for thinking that signing the petition is an exercise in futility, but if that's your reaction, let me tell you about Nazanin Mahabad Fatehi. Her case might change your mind.
In March 2005, 17-year-old Nazanin was walking with her 15-year-old niece through a park in Karaj when three men accosted the girls. The men had rape in mind, but Nazanin fought back. She stabbed one of the assailants, killing the man. She was arrested, not the would-be rapists, and on January 3, 2006, she was sentenced to death.
A petition was started and over 345,000 signatures were collected and delivered to both the United Nations and Iranian officials. Amnesty International got involved, as did members of the Canadian Parliament, the European Union and the United Nations. Rallies were held worldwide and with so much international attention being focused on Iran, the Head of Judiciary. Ayatollah Shahroudi announced a stay of execution and scheduled a retrial. Five judges presided over the 2nd trial and found "inconsistencies" in the testimonies of the male witnesses. Nazanin was exonerated but three of the judges ruled that she had used "disproportionate force" in her self-defence and demanded she pay blood-money.
Nazanin's family is poor, and so the payment was an impossibility for them. Being the fair-minded types they are, the judges declared she could simply one set bail sum of 400,000,000 rials or approximately US$43,000. Again, the impossible was being asked but the international community was still there for Nazanin and US$32,000. was given in online donations. The remaining amount was given by Member of Canadian Parliament, Belinda Stronach, and on January 31st, 2007, Nazanin Magabad Fatehi was freed.
Even one story like that of Nazanin proves that there is value in making the effort to pressure Iran into honouring the International Covenant they signed. It won't take much of your time, but it could mean the difference between an abrupt end to life at the end of a rope or the chance to live another day for more than one child in Iran.
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