“I think a lot of people on the outside don’t know that distinction. They think that Ahmadinejad is the president so naturally he represents the thoughts and the wishes of the people. And the way the government is set up in Iran the electoral process is not a democratic system where you can just vote for whoever you want. The candidates are pre-screened and so you just end up with a handful of people who represent a very extreme side of the political spectrum so you really don’t have a choice. And because Iran is a police-like state, the people they can’t really rise up and speak against the government without fhiacing harsh consequences like torture or execution…so it’s a really difficult position for them. “
from an interview with Nazanin Afshin-Jam

Execution of juvenile offenders is a “blatant violation of international law” and a “flagrant breach of Iran’s international obligations and commitments.” Iran signed two global conventions banning execution for crimes committed before the age of 18, but “unfortunately, the practice is carried out despite Iran’s obligations,”
From the interview of Associated Press with Mohammad Mostafaei attorney of more than 20 Iranian juveniles on the executions row :  http://scenews.blog.com/3902183/

“Iran’s determination to execute juvenile offenders in such large numbers is cruel, barbaric, and earns it a medal of shame…It is time to abolish the death penalty for children in Iran.”  
Hadi Ghaemi, coordinator of the International Campaign for Human Rights
http://scenews.blog.com/3905713/

“Change in Iran will not come through war and bombs; that’s exactly what Ahmadinejad wants. Change will only come from a revolt by the Iranian people, backed by the West, which needs to cry out today on behalf of these children and against Iran’s violation of human rights.”   Nazanin Afshin-Jam at a NY rally on Sep 22, 2008
http://scenews.blog.com/3928266/

“I look out at the streets of New York and see Christians, Buddhists, and Baha’is who all openly display their faith; I see women with heads uncovered and people protesting government policies. In Iran, they would already have been imprisoned, tortured, and executed”  
 Nazanin Afshin-Jam at Wall of Shame Rally NY
http://scenews.blog.com/3928373/

“The only way to address this barbaric evil is to prosecute those who engage in such acts.  The helpless girls who are victims of this deplorable practice are not able to protect themselves.  They cannot withstand the brutal beatings and executions of the very men who should be protecting them and in whom they should be placing their trust.  Only we can protect them from this mentality of hate.  We can do this first by demanding that those guilty of these murderous acts are incarcerated and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.  We can further protect them by demanding that despicable cowards such as Israr Ullah Zehri are voted out of office so that truly competent leaders can take their places.  And we can protect them by assuring that human rights do not become secondary to the religious fanaticism that rears its ugly head when the rest of the world turns a blind eye.  Only then can we protect the Fatimas, Fauzias and Jannats of the world who are the innocent victims of honor killings, the mentality of hate. ” D.W. Duke, Stop Child Executions Legal Department
http://scenews.blog.com/3915561/