“Execution of Three Juveniles” in Iran; Human Rights Watch Calls for Halt to Execution of Teenage Offenders

Following the execution of three people in January who were under 18 years old at the time of committing their crimes, Human Rights Watch has called on the Iranian government to stop executing teenage offenders.

Human Rights Watch, whose headquarters are in New York, stated on Wednesday, February 7 in a statement: “Iran must immediately and unconditionally halt executions of individuals who were under 18 years old at the time of committing their crimes and move toward the complete abolition of capital punishment”.

The statement detailed the execution of three such offenders during January by the names of Amir Hosseinpur Jafar, Ali Kazemi, and Mahboubeh Mofidi.

Amir Hosseinpur Jafar, 18, was executed on January 4 in Karaj prison for raping a three-year-old girl and murdering her at the age of 16.

Ali Kazemi, who according to reports killed a man with a knife during an altercation at age 15, was executed on January 30.

Mahboubeh Mofidi, 20, who at age 16 and after four years of marriage murdered her husband, was also executed on the same day.

News of the execution of these sentences was published right after the Iranian judiciary, by approving new laws, reduced the execution of death sentences for drug offenders, thereby exempting thousands of people from capital punishment.

Sarah Lee Whitson, Middle East director at Human Rights Watch, said: “It appears Iran intends to erase the positive impact of minor reforms in capital punishment laws for drug offenders by executing teenage offenders”.

The human rights organization added: “Iran is one of only four countries that has executed teenage offenders since 2013”. The other countries are Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Yemen.

Amnesty International also states that from 2015 to the beginning of this year, at least 87 people in Iran have been executed for crimes they committed while under 18 years old.

Source: Radio Farda