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Press Archive - 16th January 2011 - 9 Comments »

Iran on “Execution Binge;” Immediate Moratorium Urged

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On Average, One Person Executed Every Eight Hours in 2011

Kurdish Prisoner Executed; At Least 15 Other Kurdish Political Prisoners in Danger of Execution

(16 January 2011) The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran called on the Iranian Parliament and the Judiciary to immediately institute a moratorium on executions and to move swiftly to abolish the death penalty, in the face of skyrocketing executions following unfair trials and opaque judicial proceedings.

Since the beginning of the New Year, Iran has hanged 47 prisoners, or an average of about one person every eight hours. Iran executes more people per capita than any other country, and in absolute numbers, is second only to China.

On Saturday, 15 January 2011, Iran hanged a Kurdish prisoner some Iranian websites have identified as Hossein Khazri, a Kurdish political prisoner on the death row. A local official in the province of Western Azerbaijan told media that “a member of the Pejak (an armed Kurdish guerilla group)” was hanged in Urumiye prison on Saturday morning. He did not name the executed prisoner.

Khazri’s brother told the Campaign that the authorities have not provided any information to the family about the execution of his brother. Hossein Khazri had denied charges against him and said he was severely tortured.

“The Iranian Judiciary is on an execution binge orchestrated by the intelligence and security agencies,” stated Aaron Rhodes, a spokesperson for the Campaign.

“The execution of Kurdish activists, without fair trials and following torture, increasingly appears as a systematic, politically motivated process,” he said.

In addition to the execution of Khazri, Iranian media have reported a total of 46 executions in 2011: seven in Kermanshah on 1 January, sixteen in Ahwaz on 5 January, one in Asfaryan on 8 January, eight in Qom on 9 January, seven in Tehran on 12 January, five in Khorramabad on 13 January, two in Boroujerd on 14 January.

Khazri, who is around 29 years old, was convicted of being Mohareb, “an enemy of God,” on 11 July 2009, on the basis that he “endangered state security.” He reported in a letter to international organizations that he had been tortured while in prisons run by the Intelligence Ministry and the Revolutionary Guards, but according to Amnesty International, his request for an investigation was denied.  He had refused to confess to committing any of the crimes for which he was convicted.

Another Kurdish activist, Habibollah Latifi, was about to be hung on 26 December 2010, but the execution was halted.  The Campaign considers him still at grave risk.

On 9 May 2010, Kurdish activists Farzad Kamangar and Shirin Alam Holi were hung.

At least 14 other Kurdish prisoners are in danger of execution: Zeinab Jalilian, Shirkoo Moarefi, Rostam Arkia, Mostafa Salimi, Anvar Rostami, Rashid Akhkandi, Mohammad Amin Aghooshi, Ahmad Pooladkhani, Seyed Sami Husseini, Seyed Jamal Mohammadi, Hasan Talei, Iraj Mohammadi, Mohammad Amin Abdollahi and Ghader Mohammadzadeh.

According to information received by and reported by the Campaign, the number of executions in Iran is apparently even higher than previously reported.   Multiple and reliable reports indicate that secret, mass executions of more than a hundred have taken place in Mashad’s Vakilabad prison.

“When executions become the method of choice to solve political and practical problems, human life is being tragically devalued in Iran,” Rhodes said.

The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran called upon Iran to institute an immediate moratorium on executions and an independent review of all pending death penalty cases, including those of juvenile offenders who have allegedly committed crimes under the age of 18, and to take steps toward the abolition of the death penalty.




9 Comments

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Bjarne Kim Pedersen
Jan 16, 2011 11:34

My word again and again:

Cut the rope I

cut the rope from
the neck of the convicted
and bind the judge

Cut the rope II

put the judges to court
and give them a fair trial
for their death sentences

Cut the rope III

life is sacred
no one may steal the right
to breathe freely

Dave Randle3
Jan 16, 2011 18:22

“Spirit is the only thing of real value in life. Since everyone has a spirit, everyone is of equal value” Who then gives someone the right to take another life?

Rose3
Jan 17, 2011 19:39

Where is Carter now? Why isnt’ he sending a Human Right ‘ s Watch reporting the atrocities these lunitic Mullahs are committing against the innocent citizens of Iran.

The Shah who was called a dictator, and Human Rights violator, by Carter, did not commit such heinous acts, as do these mullahs, that Carter so revers. Where is Carter Now, Why is he not opposing these murderers?

Why is the United Nation sitting silent? What happened to the outrage of the civilized world? Why is everyone scared of a bunch of no-nothing Mullahs? and letting them, kill, kill and kill… every eight hour!!??….Where are the Humanists? Are we all numb…we have no sense…. Shame…. Shame …Shame on all who see these atrocities and stay silent. Humanity does not exist any more….

NAIRIKA
Jan 18, 2011 14:59

DO SOMETHING
MY PEOPLE ARE HUMAN TOO!
CAN’T YOU SEE THEM?

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Jan 22, 2011 2:09

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[...] Against Educational Discrimination (AAED) – Two weeks after a report was published by the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran on “a remarkable increase in the implementations of death sentences by the judiciary system”, [...]

Iran: Deepening Crisis on Rights | RAHANA
Jan 27, 2011 4:46

[...] frequency of executions for crimes other than moharebeh in recent months. On January 16, 2011, The International Campaign on Human Rights in Iran reported that Iran had hanged at least 47 prisoners, “or an average of about one person every [...]

Iran: An Acceleration of Executions « Patrick Mac Manus's Blog
Jan 27, 2011 19:41

[...] frequency of executions for crimes other than moharebeh in recent months. On January 16, 2011, The International Campaign on Human Rights in Iran reported that Iran had hanged at least 47 prisoners, “or an average of about one person every [...]

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