Delara Darabi Update

We have been receiving few inquiries from the concerned Delara Darabi campaign supporters about recent news and the mass emails that were distributed claiming that :”In the past two days, Delara has been severely beaten in prison by both the prisoners and the prison guards. Prison authorities have confirmed that Delara’s body bears severe signs of beatings and abuse. “

In a phone conversation with SCE campaign Mr. Khoramshahi, Delara’s attorney stated that “throughout her jail time she has often been harrassed and beaten by other prisoners.”. He did not make any reference to any reports of being beaten by “prison guards”. According to Delara’s sister , her father “just visited Delara and there were no reports of her being severly beaten in the last couple of days.”

The same article claimed that ” Amir Hussain, the young boy who was imprisoned on charges of having assisted Delara during the murder, was allowed to leave the prison on official leave. While on leave, Amir Hussain threatened to kill Delara’s family and vowed to create significant “problems” for them if Delara is exonerated. “

Both Delara’s sister and lawyer stated that although they occasionally receive threatening phone calls but they have no confirmation as to who makes such phone calls. According to Delara’s sister the past calls were “not by Amir Hossein”. It should be noted that in the event Delara is exonerated Amir Hossein may face death penalty.

We continue to encourage others to state the source of published news for readers, so they can independently verify the news than having to resort to contacting SCE for verifications. Additionally SCE campaign continues to encourage more responsible reporting of the information by others, as such “sensationalism” result in unnecessary additional distress on Delara’s family and supporters.

UK Sunday Mirror story on Delara Darabi

London Sunday Mirror with over 4 million readership has published a “double page spread on the centre pages” on Delara Darabi today. Stop Child Executions Campaign made the arrangement for the newspaper interview with Delara Darbi’s father. We also appreciate amnesty international’s (UK) assitance in making this newspaper coverage possible.   You can read the article here.

Delara Darabi unanticipated file transfer to head of judiciary causes concern

Yesterday Delara Darabi’s file was transferred from the city of Rasht to Ayatollah Shahroudi, the head of judiciary of Islamic Republic of Iran and if the verdict is approved by him she could be executed; Iranian newspaper Etemaad reported today.

Delara’s attorney, Abdolsamad Khoramshahi told the Etemaad reporter: ” I had asked the review division to examine the case but Unfortunately, I do not understand why the file was sent to Ayatollah Shahroudi to obtain his approval of the execution. Of course no officials have notified me of this matter. Regrettably there are many deficiencies in this file that have not been addressed. I must say that I made my appeal and review request within the legally allowed time limits. I have frequently requested a re-enactment of the crime scene because this can clear many ambiguities and prove Delara’s innocence, but I do not know why this has never been done.”

Khoramshahi said: ” Delara’s mental and physical conditions is not good. She was imprisoned in her youth and because of being an artist she does not have much tolerance for prison. They have given her painting tools which has somewhat helped her situation but overall she is in a very fragile mental situation and this has been the cause of many of physical illnesses. She has lost much weight and her condition is not describable. That is why once in prison she attempted to commit suicide.”

“I am anticipating that the division of appeals would consider the deficiencies and to request the file back but I must also add that head of judiciary and their judges are very careful in their file reviews and I am sure during the review they will notice the ambiguities and deficiencies in the file and will not easily overlook these issues and there is good possibility that they exonerate the verdict.” he told Etemaad.

Delara’s lawyer added: “On the other hand with the help of Mr. Tahmasebi the attorney in city of Rasht, I will continue my attempts to transfer Delara from Rasht prison to Tehran and I am very hopeful that this could happen within the next few days.” 

 

Right: Delara’s in prison Hijab in 2005 court appearance
Top left: Judge Javid Nia who issued the death sentence
Center: Delara w her attorney in corurt, Amir Hossein, boyfriend
Photo source: Iran Newspaper Dec 31, 2005 issue

Amnesty UK sends group 'thinking of you' photo to Delara Darabi

During their Annual General Meeting, Amnesty International UK asked all the attendants to sign a petition for for Delara Darabi. In a letter to Stop Child Execution campaign Amnesty wrote: “They took a photo of them holding cards saying ‘thinking of you’ in Farsi, which they are going to send to her lawyer.”

In a webpage called Stop Child Executions in IranAmnesty UK features has featured few of the Iranian Youth facing executions with letters/petitions that are addressed Iranian authorities: 

AI has obtained more than 14,000 signatures on a Amnesty International petition for Delara Darabi directed to  Ayatollah Khamenei, the supreme leader of Islamic Republic of Iran. Delara Darabi’s Amnesty letter in English can be viewed at the Norway site of Amnesty International as the petition in UK has been closed at their annual conference.

After delivering Delara’s signed petition to Iranian embassy in Norway, a member of the Amnesty International Norway wrote :” …they claimed that she would not be executed. At the same time, they said “this case does not actually exist”. We were not allowed inside the Embassy, but a representative came out, accepted the petition lists, and then told us to leave. “.

Both Amnesty Internationals of UK and Norway have referred their readers to  Visit the ‘Help Delara’ myspace page, myspace.com/helpdelara .  Many of the myspace friends of Delara Darabi have obtained signatures from their friends and family and have also been responsible for smaller campaigns outside myspace with mass emails, arts, school projects etc. Delara’s online petition created and written by Mani Azizzadeh has surpassed 10,000 signatures to date 

Stop Child Executions Campaign has urged the Iranian authorities to halt the executions of alleged child offenders and instead encourage fair trials in accordance with international laws. Following open petitions and letters meet SCE demands: 

Stop Child Executions Petition

Save Delara Petition 

Stop Child Executions in Iran letter (Amnesty International)

Delara Darabi letter  (Amnesty International)

Abbas Hosseini and Rasoul Mohammadi letter (Amnesty International)

Ali Mahin Torabi letter (Amnesty International)

Sources: Amnesty International (AI), Delara Darabi myspace

Demonstration for Delara Darabi held in Sweden

Gunnar Andrén, Swedish Parliament member
giving speech at Save Delara demonstration

The International Committee Against Executions organized a demonstration on Monday March 12 in in Stockholm, Sweden to save Delara Darabi from execution.

Date/ Time : Monday March 12, 2007
Place: Stockholm, Sergels Torg

Speakers were:

Fredrik Malm Parliament member
Gunnar Andrén Parliament member
Johan Strandell Amnesty International
Fred Saberi People Liberal Party
Alice Åström Left Party
Nima Dariyamadj Journalist
Andishe Alishahi Iranian Refugees Committee
Mahnaz Masori Iranian women Right Committee
Pia Parkkonen International Committee Against Executions
Mansour Masoris International Committee Against Executions

Radio interview with Delara Darabi's Father and Attorney

New phone interviews with attorney and father of Delara Darabi (in persian)

According to her attorney, Delara has been given back books to read and is painting again in prison. Her attorney says that he is hopeful that there are enough evidences to prove Delara is innocent.

Source: Radio Sweden (Persian programming). Information provided by Nazanin Afshin-Jam

Amnesty international wordlwide appeal for Delara Darabi

Amnesty International issued a new worldwide appeal to help save Delara Darabi from execution. This is great news as Amnesty has much worldwide exposure and support. The article appeared in their websites in different languges as well as in their monthly newsletter.

They also made a reference to Delara’s myspace page under the new photo that we provided them. http://web.amnesty.org/appeals/index/irn-010307-wwa-eng

Word of thanks to Nazanin Afshin-Jam, Vincent Maunoury of our team and Amnesty staff for making this possible.

What you can do in Delara’s name…

May 6th 2009: Protest Iran’s Illegal Execution of Delara Darabi

Many Stop Child Executions supporters have been asking what they can do to honour Delara’s  passing and send a message to the Iranian officials to voice their outrage.
Stop Child Executon’s liaison to Amnesty International representative Aubrey Harris had a great idea…

THREE THINGS YOU CAN DO:


1.   SEND A VIRTUAL WHITE ROSE TO THE IRANIAN EMBASSY.
Find an image of a WHITE rose by using Google’s Image searching and email it to your Iranian embassy and/or the officials in Iran along with a short message about how you feel of the injustice in Delara’s execution.

2.     Make your own CARD OF CONDOLENCE to mail to the Iranian Embassy & authorities. You can use the image of the white rose that Delara drew in her own painting which has been posted on the DP blog at http://www.amnesty.ca/blog_post2.php?id=833 

Copy and paste the image onto a word processing document rotated upside-down and aligned to the top-left corner of the page.  On the bottom-right corner of the page, type in your message (or wait to write it by hand). This should fold into quarters with your image on the front of the card and your message inside.

3.   LEAVE WHITE ROSES AT THE ENTRANCE OF YOUR  LOCAL IRANIAN EMBASSY or consulate on Wednesday 6th of May. This action is being taken around the world.

Here are available contacts for Iran in the action (please keep in mind that a two-month stay of execution had been issued by the Head of the Judiciary only two weeks before Delara’s sudden and secretive execution):

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

Iranian Embassy in Canada:
Mr Bahram Ghasemi
Chargé d’Affaires, Embassy for the Islamic Republic of Iran
245 Metcalfe Street
Ottawa, Ontario K2P 2K2
Fax:   (613) 232-5712
E-mail (Consulate): consulate@salamiran.org
E-mail (Embassy): iranemb@salamiran.org
E-mail (Ambassador): ambassador@iranembassy.org

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:   011 98 21 3390 4986 (difficult to reach)
Email:  info@dadgostary-tehran.ir (In the subject line write: FAO Javad Larijani)
Salutation: Dear Mr Larijani

Delara’s body was burried today

 پیکردلارا دارابی متولد 7 مهر 1365 خورشیدی امروز 12 اردیبهشت1388 خورشیدی  در حضور صدها نفر از دوستان و آشنایانش در باغ رضوان رشت به خاک سپرده شد. دیشب پدرش را به بیمارستان بردند . او در مراسم خاکسپاری دخترش حضور نداشت
Today May 2nd 2009, body of Delara Darabi born on September 28, 1986 was burried in ”Heaven’s Garden” in the Caspian City of Rasht, Iran. Hundreds of people attended her funeral. Her father who is now hospitalized was not present.