Category Archives: Uncategorized

Nazanin’s views on current situation in Iran

Nazanin Afshin-Jam and Stop Child Executions support the movement of the the Iranian people and demands an immediate stop to the atrocities, violations of the human rights and freedom of expression by the current regime and demand full compliance with the expressed will of the Iranians. 

In solidarity with Iranians , SCE has changed the colors of its blog to green and encourage others to also show their support.

You can listen to a radio interview (AM770) with Nazanin Afshin-Jam about the recent events in Iran here: podcast page.
 
Also this is Nazanin’s open letter to the Iranian people:
 
Oh how we, living in exile, wish we could be at your side at this critical juncture in history.

Please keep the momentum going with acts of nonviolent civil disobedience. Like a snowball in motion, once underway, cannot be stopped by anyone.

The eyes of the world are watching your every step and are behind you. World leaders are closely observing the country proclaiming their desire to see the wishes of the Iranian people met. They simply need to see the sheer numbers of the population that seek change and reform. They too will be on your side.

This is our chance to regain our destiny as the freedom loving sons and daughters of Cyrus the Great. This is our chance to bring down the theocracy and rise up to establish a democracy so that our children will be able to enjoy the fruits of liberty: freedom, equality, the rule of law, separation between religion and state and a constitution based on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Saudi’s to execute 4 Iraqi juveniles

Four Iraqi youths could be executed at any moment. None have enjoyed legal aid or a fair trial.

PUBLIC
AI Index: MDE 23/019/2009

UA 157/09
Death Penalty / Alleged juvenile offenders
18 June 2009

SAUDI ARABIA
Raid Halassa Sakit (m), aged about 20, Iraqi national
Abbas Fadil Abbas (m), aged 20, Iraqi national
Othman Ali (m), aged 20, Iraqi national
Aqil Matsher (m), aged 22, Iraqi national

The four Iraqi nationals named above are at risk of imminent execution for alleged offences reported to have been committed while they were below the age of 18. They were convicted and sentenced to death after unfair trials. All four were not given legal assistance or representation and they were sentenced after secret and summary trials. They all claim that they are innocent. They are held in Rafha prison, near the border with Iraq.

According to information received by Amnesty International, Raid Halassa Sakit was arrested and detained by the General Intelligence in the town of Rafha in 2005. He was charged and tried for drug-related offences and for links with armed groups in Iraq. He had been around 16 years old at the time of these alleged crimes. He was allegedly tortured by being subjected to electric shocks and then beaten until he signed a “confession” which, because he is illiterate, he could not read.

Raid Halassa Sakit was tried in secret without legal assistance by the Criminal Court in Rafha and was initially sentenced to five years’ imprisonment. According to a report received by Amnesty International, when the judge announced the sentence Raid Halassa Sakit insisted on his innocence, to which the judge apparently replied, “You had signed”, referring to the fact that he had signed a “confession”. When Raid Halassa Sakit told the judge that he had signed because of the torture the judge told him, “Such talk is of no benefit to you now”. When he was brought back to the same court two months later he was told that the Court of Cassation in Riyadh had increased the sentence to 20 years’ imprisonment. A month later Raid Halassa Sakit was again brought back to the Criminal Court in Rafha and informed that he was sentenced to death.

Because of the secrecy of the criminal justice system in Saudi Arabia, Amnesty International has been unable to obtain extensive details about the cases of the other three men. However, the organization has received reports that they were all aged between 15 and 18 at the time of their alleged crimes. Othman Ali and Aqil Matsher were arrested in 2004 and would have been around 15 years and 17 years old respectively at the time. Abbas Fadil Abbas is also reported to have been under 18 at the time of his arrest.

Prisoners in Saudi Arabia may be put to death without a scheduled date for execution being made known to them or their families. The four alleged juvenile offenders could be executed at any time.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Saudi Arabia is a state party to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which expressly prohibits the execution of juvenile offenders – those convicted of crimes committed when they were under 18. However, Saudi Arabia continues to execute alleged juvenile offenders in breach of their obligations under international law (see press release issued on 11 May 2009, Saudi Arabia: Two juveniles executed by Saudi Arabian authorities among a group of five at http://www.amnesty.org/en/for-media/press-releases/saudi-arabia-two-juveniles-executed-saudi-authorities-among-group-five-2).

At least 158 people, including 76 foreign nationals, were executed by the Saudi Arabian authorities in 2007, and at least 102 people, including almost 40 foreign nationals, were executed in 2008. Since the beginning of 2009, a further 42 people are known to have been executed.

Saudi Arabia applies the death penalty for a wide range of offences. Court proceedings fall far short of international standards for fair trial. Defendants are rarely allowed formal representation by a lawyer, and in many cases are not informed of the progress of legal proceedings against them. They may be convicted solely on the basis of confessions obtained under duress or deception.

In a recent report on the use of the death penalty in Saudi Arabia, Amnesty International highlighted the extensive use of the death penalty as well as the disproportionately high number of executions of foreign nationals from developing countries. For further information please see Saudi Arabia: Affront to Justice: Death Penalty in Saudi Arabia (Index: MDE 23/027/2008), published on 14 October 2008: http://www.amnesty.org/en/news-and-updates/report/saudi-arabia-executions-target-foreign-nationals-20081014

RECOMMENDED ACTION: Write a personally-worded appeal in Arabic, English or your own language

– urging the authorities to halt the execution of Raid Halassa Sakit, Abbas Fadil Abbas, Othman Ali and Aqil Matsher, all of whom may have been under 18 at the time of their alleged crimes;

– calling on the authorities to commute the death sentences of Raid Halassa Sakit, Abbas Fadil Abbas, Othman Ali and Aqil Matsher, particularly given Saudi Arabia’s obligations as a state party to the Convention on the Rights of the Child;

– reminding the authorities that they should act in accordance with international law, particularly Article 37 of the Convention of the Rights of the Child, and end the use of the death penalty against juvenile offenders.

APPEALS TO:

His Majesty King ‘Abdullah Bin ‘Abdul ‘Aziz Al-Saud
The Custodian of the two Holy Mosques
Office of His Majesty the King
Royal Court
Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Fax: (via Ministry of the Interior) 011 966 1 403 1185 (can be hard to reach)
Salutation: Your Majesty

His Royal Highness Prince Naif bin ‘Abdul ‘Aziz Al-Saud
Second Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior
Ministry of the Interior
P.O. Box 2933, Airport Road
Riyadh 11134, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Fax: 011 966 1 403 1185 (can be hard to reach)
Salutation: Your Royal Highness

COPIES TO:

Mr Abdullah Saleh A. Al Awwad
Chargé d’Affaires, Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia
201 Sussex Drive
Ottawa, Ontario K1N 1K6
Fax: (613) 237-0567

Mr Bandar Mohammed Abdullah Al Aiban
President, Human Rights Commission
P.O. Box 58889, King Fahad Road, Building No. 373
Riyadh 11515, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Fax: 011 966 1 461 2061
Email: hrc@haq-ksa.org 

Ibrahim Goudarzvand Chegini’s open letter and plea for life

https://www.peykeiran.com/Content.aspx?ID=2003

“Open letter of Ebrahim Goudarzvand Chegini, a juvenile convicted for execution”
Herana News: My name is Ebrahim Goudarzvand Chegini, son of Mansour, and I am in prison for 7 years now for the crime of killing.

At age 16, I was joking with my friend and suddenly the knife struck his chest. My friend’s name was Vali-ollah Pirmard-vand Chegini, and we were neighbors for 12 years. I was always at his house and some days we went fishing. We wold give the fish to his mother and she would give us grapes by cutting them down from the tree in their yard. His mother liked me very much. Valiollah and I were going to school together and were always playing in the back lane . One day, I saw Valiollah was fighting with another boy, I went forward to stop their fight, and that’s when the incident happened. I told him “don’t  fight, let’s go home” , he said “I am not coming and who are you to order me around?” I said, “I am your friend and if you are not coming I will knife you”, and of course I was joking. He said “you cannot do it”  and I struck him jokingly and unfortunately he passed away. I am very regretful, for a childish mistake I made and lost one of my best friend, and since I am in prison I did not make any friends purposely  because Valiollah is always on my mind. I plead to the deceased family to forgive me for the sake of my frail old parents. My father is a simple worker and now I have to be bring bread to them but I am in prison. I hope that they forgive me and I promise when I am out of the jail that I will make up to them. I consider them as my parents, as I remember when I was a kid, Valiollah’s mother put my head and Valiollah’s head on her lap as she would caress our hair. I was like a son to her. ”

For more information and how to take action please visit: http://scenews.blog.com/5153849/

نامه سرگشاده ابراهیم گودرزوند چگینی ، نوجوان محکوم به اعدام

خبرگزاری هرانا : اینجانب ابراهیم گودرزوند چگینی ف=D 8زند منصور به جرم قتل الان 7 سال است که در زندان هستم . در سن 16 سالگی با رفیقم شوخی کردم و یکدفعه چاقو به سینه اش خورد.
اسم رفیقم ولی الله پیرمردوند چگینی بود که با هم 12 سال همسایه بودیم. همیشه من خانه شان بودم و بعضی از روزها که با هم به ماهیگیری می رفتیم ماهی ها را به مادرش می دادیم و مادرش هم از درخت حیاطشان به من انگور می داد. مادرش من را خیلی دوست داشت. ما هر روز با هم به مدرسه می رفتDBم و همیشه با هم  در کوچه بازی می کردیم. تا اینکه آن روز ولی الله را دیدم که با یک نفر دعوا می کند. من رفتم که آنها را از هم جدا کنم و این ماجرا پیش آمد که من به او گفتم دعوا نکن  بیا به خانه برویم ولی او گفت نمی آیم مگر تو چه کار هستی؟ گفتم: من دوست تو هستم اگر نیایی با چاقو می زنم که البته به شوخی گفتم. و او گفت: نمی توانی بزنی و من هم به شوخی چاقو را زدم که متاسفانه فوت کرد.
من الآن خیلی D9شیمانم. به خاطر بچگی اشتباه کردم و یکی از دوستان خوبم را از دست دادم و حتی الآن که در زندان هستم با کسی رفاقت نکردم چون همیشه به یاد او بودم.
از اولیای دم خواهش می کنم به خاطر رضای خدا و به خاطر مادر و پدر پیری که دارم من را ببخشند. چون پدرم یک کارگر ساده است و من باید الآن نان آور خانه باشم اما در زندان هستم.
امیدوارم که آنها من را ببخشند و قول می دهم وقتی که از زندان آزاد شدم برای B Eدر و مادر ولی الله جبران کنم.چون من آنها را مانند پدر و مادر خودم می دانم همان طور که زمانی که بچه بودیم، مادر ولی الله سر من و ولی الله را روی پایش می گذاشت و نوازش می کرد و من برایش مانند پسرش بودم.

Launch of child executions report for policy makers and activists….



Report Launch: ‘From Cradle to Coffin: A Report on Child Executions in Iran’


Date: Tuesday 30th June, 6pm

Venue: Thatcher Room, Portcullis House, Houses of Parliament


Speakers include:

Bill Rammell MP, Minister of State with responsibility for the Middle East, Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Nazanin Afshin-Jam, President of Stop Child Executions

Geraldine Van Bueren, Professor of International Human Rights Law, Queen Mary, University of London

Tom Porteous, Director, Human Rights Watch UK

Chair: Alistair Carmichael MP, Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for the Abolition of the Death Penalty


The Foreign Policy Centre, in partnership with Stop Child Executions, is hosting the launch of a major new report entitled, ‘From Cradle to Coffin: A Report on Child Executions in Iran’ written by Stop Child Executions and Tahirih Danesh. The report aims to provide a comprehensive documentation and analysis of Islamic Republc of Iran’s executions of minors since the 1979 Revolution. It will highlight inconsistencies in the Iranian legal system, as well as contradictions between Iran’s record of executing minors and its international human rights commitments. The report will put forward clear recommendations for action by the international community and human rights campaigners. Hard copies of the Report will be available free of charge at this event.

If you would like to attend the event or want further

information please send an email to: events@fpc.org.uk

Ebrahim Goodarzvand Chegini imminent risk of execution

Source: http://www.peykeiran.com/Content.aspx?ID=1672

http://zamaaneh.com/news/2009/06/print_post_9221.html

 

Juvenile offender,  Ebrahim Goodarzvand Chegini is at imminent risk of execution for fatally stabbing his friend at age 17.

 

Iran Human Rights Activists have reported that Ebrahim was born on June 23rd 1986 and has been in Roudbar prison for the last six years since April 2003. It was reported that he was joking with his friend and in a childish confrontation he stabbed him in the chest which took his life.  His execution was confirmed by the Supreme Court for ghesas (retribution) and his family anticipates that head of Judiciary Ayatollah Shahroudi will approve his execution within the next few days. Iran Human Rights Activists have reported that Ebrahim does not have lawyer while Radio Zamaneh has reported that he only has a state appointed lawyer..

 

Please  send urgent appeals

– calling on the authorities to commute his death sentence, as he is facing execution for a crime committed when he was under 18 which in accordance with Iran’s obligations as a state party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, is against international human rights law.

APPEALS TO:

Head of the Judiciary

Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi

c/o Director, Judiciary Public Relations and Information Office

Ardeshir Sadiq

Judiciary Public Relations and Information Office

No. 57, Pasteur St., corner of Khosh Zaban Avenue

Tehran, Iran

Email:                        info@dadiran.ir  (In the subject line write: FAO Ayatollah Shahroudi)

Salutation:                Your Excellency

 

Judiciary spokesperson

Alireza Jamshidi

Howzeh Riyasat-e Qoveh Qazaiyeh / Office of the Head of the Judiciary

Pasteur St, Vali Asr Ave., south of Serah-e Jomhuri

Tehran 1316814737, Iran

Email:                      info@a-jamshidi.ir

Salutation:                Dear Sir

 

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:                        info_leader@leader.ir

via website: http://www.leader.ir/langs/en/index.php?p=letter (English)

http://www.leader.ir/langs/fa/index.php?p=letter (Persian)

Salutation:                                Your Excellency       

 

 

COPIES TO:

Director, Human Rights Headquarters of Iran

Mohammad Javad Larijani

Howzeh Riyasat-e Qoveh Qazaiyeh / Office of the Head of the Judiciary

Pasteur St, Vali Asr Ave., south of Serah-e Jomhuri

Tehran 1316814737, Iran

Fax:                           +98 21 3390 4986 (please keep trying)

Email:                      info@dadgostary-tehran.ir (In the subject line write: FAO Javad Larijani)

Salutation:              Dear Mr Larijani

and to diplomatic representatives of Iran accredited to your country.

نوجوانی دیگر در آستانه اعدام

http://www.peykeiran.com/Content.aspx?ID=1672

مجموعه فعالان حقوق بشر در ایران  : ابراهیم گودرزوند چگینی فرزند منصور متولد 2 تیرماه 1365، به جرم قتلی که در حدود 17 سالگی (اردیبهشت 82) مرتکب شده است، 6 سال است که در زندان رودبار زندانی است و هم اکنون با تائید شدن حکم قصاص در آستانه اعدام قرار دارد.
آقای چگینی در طی یک شوخی و درگیری کودکانه با دوست هم سال خود، با چاقو ضربه ای به سینه مقتول وارد آورده که همین ضربه منجر به مرگ شده است و پس از طی مراحل قضایی حکم اعدام وی در دادگاههای تالی و دیوان عالی تائید شده است.
هر چند آقای چگینی از وکیل مدافع منتخب بی بهره است اما خانواده این زندانی مدعی استیذان آیت الله شاهرودی جهت اجرای حکم اعدام در طی روزهای آتی هستند.
طبق ماده 37 کنوانسیون حقوق کودک اجرای مجازات اعدام و حبس های طولانی مدت برای کودکان تا قبل از پايان سن هجده سالگی ممنوع است. در ضمن در بند 6 ماده ی 5 میثاق بین المللی حقوق مدنی و سیاسی صراحتاً حکم اعدام برای کودکان زیر 18 سال ممنوع اعلام شده است..علیرغم این مهم کشور ایران بالاترین میزان اعدام کودکان را در جهان داراست.