Behnood had allegedly killed a boy during a street fight in Tehran when he was 17 years old. He has been in prison for the last 4 years and scheduled for execution 5 times already. And all the reports pointed to a stay of execution in his case.
In his weblog, his attorney Mohammad Mostafaie wrote: “I went to the Executive office of the Tehran Criminal Court yesterday to follow up on Benood Shojai’s case. I was told by Mr. Jaberi, the clerk of the office that no date had been set for Behnood’s execution and a stay of execution is in effect. This morning I heard that Bahnood Shojai had been transferred to the isolation ward in prison. I went back to the Executive office to inquire about the case. Mr. Jaberi confirmed the execution and said that the Qisas( Islamic retaliation Law) will take place tomorrow”.
Bahnood was below the age of 18 when he committed the murder. The family of the victi
m had forgiven Behnood and had unequivocally given up their right to retribution (The right of victim’s family under Qisas law) in front of several witnesses namely : Ezzatollah Sahabi, Parviz Parastoui, Sayed Mohammad Mojabi, Dr. Golzari and a few others.
Mosatafai adds: “After I brought up the fact the family of the victim had given up their right to retribution, the file was sent back to the issuing court. The judges from the 74th provincial criminal court rejected the appeal arguing the verbal retrieval of family’s right to retribution even when it is confirmed by the witness affidavit o does not constitute a reasonable ground for appeal and the execution order shall remain in effect”.
Also in an opinion related to this case Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi had previously said:” where there is credible witness testimony on the forgiveness by the victim’s family such forgiveness remains irretrievable”.
PLEASE WRITE IMMEDIATELY in Persian, English, French, Arabic or your own language:
* Expressing concern that Behnood Shojaee and Safar Angoti are at risk of execution for a crime committed when they were under 18;
* calling on the Iranian authorities to commute his death sentence;
* reminding the authorities that Iran is a state party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), both of which prohibit the use of the death penalty against people convicted of crimes committed when they were under 18.
PLEASE SEND APPEALS TO:
Leader of the Islamic Republic:
Ayatollah Sayed ‘Ali Khamenei
The Office of the Supreme Leader
Islamic Republic Street – End of Shahid Keshvar Doust Street,
Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Email: via website: http://www.leader.ir/langs/en/index.php?p=letter (English)
http://www.leader.ir/langs/fa/index.php?p=letter (Persian)
Head of the Judiciary:
Ayatollah Sadeqh Larijani
Howzeh Riyasat-e Qoveh Qazaiyeh (Office of the Head of the Judiciary)
Pasteur St., Vali Asr Ave., south of Serah-e Jomhouri,
Tehran 1316814737,
Islamic Republic of Iran
Email: Via website: http://www.dadiran.ir/tabid/81/Default.aspx
First starred box: your given name; second starred box: your family name;
third: your email address
COPIES TO:
Director, Human Rights Headquarters of IranMohammad Javad Larijani
Howzeh Riassat-e Ghoveh Ghazaiyeh
Pasteur St, Vali Asr Ave., south of Serah-e Jomhuri,
Tehran 1316814737,
Islamic Republic of Iran
Fax 01198 21 3390 4986 (please keep trying)
Email: fsharafi@bia-judiciary.ir or int_aff@judiciary.ir (In the subject line: FAO
Mohammad Javad Larijani)
