Execution Threat Looms Over Imprisoned Teenager Milad Azimi

Milad Azimi, a teenager accused of “intentional murder” in a group altercation, faces execution. Iran’s Human Rights Organization says his relatives are trying to obtain the consent of the victim’s family. Two weeks ago, news of another teenager’s execution was reported.

Iran’s Human Rights Organization reported on December 4 (4 December) that Milad Azimi, a imprisoned teenager who was accused of “intentional murder” at age 17 in connection with a group altercation at high school, now faces the danger of execution.

According to the report, Milad Azimi, who was born in Kermanshah, was arrested by police following a group altercation at Rudaki Township High School on December 8, 2013. He is charged with committing “intentional murder.”

At the time of the alleged crime, Milad Azimi was under 18 years old. After his arrest, due to reaching legal age, he was transferred to Kermanshah Correction and Education Center for approximately one year and then to Diesel Abad Prison in the city. Currently, this prisoner is serving time in the “Advisory Ward One – Youth Ward.”

The Kermanshah Province Islamic Revolutionary Court condemned him two years after Milad Azimi’s arrest, in 2015, to “qisas” (retribution) on the charge of killing a man with a knife in a group altercation.

In November 2015, Amnesty International also issued a warning statement about the possibility of executing this teenage prisoner. Amnesty International reported on the “unjust proceedings” of Milad Azimi’s trial and his “confessions under torture.”

According to this prisoner’s family, “due to the chaos of the fight and the crowd congestion, he is not certain that he himself committed the murder.”

The relatives of this teenage prisoner are trying to prevent his execution by collecting money and paying blood money (diyeh). One of Milad Azimi’s relatives told Iran’s Human Rights Organization: “On November 2 of this year, they wanted to execute Milad, but with the intervention of elders, we got one month’s extension and this is the last extension they gave us. If we cannot prepare 550 million tomans by December 13, they will execute Milad.”

Fariba Bakshi, Milad Azimi’s mother, told Iran’s Human Rights Organization: “After my son was sentenced to qisas, there is no path we have not taken. We went everywhere. I pleaded with anyone I thought could provide some help. By selling my possessions and with help from some charitable individuals, I collected 150 million tomans. Imam Ali Society also stood by us and collected 200 million tomans in aid for Milad’s release, which totals 350 million together, but we are still short by 200 million tomans compared to the amount requested by the victim’s family. Now they have threatened that if the full blood money is not paid by December 13 of this year, they will execute the sentence.”

This prisoner’s family has also sent their request for assistance to artists and media outlets.

Execution of a Teenager in Rajai Shahr Prison

Human rights organizations have reported the execution of a teenager named Omid Rostami. It is said that he was among 10 prisoners who were executed two weeks ago in Rajai Shahr Prison in Karaj. Omid Rostami was arrested at age 16 following a murder that occurred in June 2012 in Islamshahr and was sentenced to death.

He had previously been taken to the gallows four times, but the execution of the sentence was postponed. Omid Rostami had two prior convictions for theft in his file. Due to the high amount of blood money, this prisoner’s family was unable to satisfy the victim’s family.

Although Iran is a signatory to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, it carries out death sentences against criminals under 18 years old. Article 37 of the International Convention on the Rights of the Child prohibits the imposition and execution of death sentences, deprivation of life, and irreversible life imprisonment for children – all persons under 18 years of age.

Iran’s judicial system does not recognize 18 years as the legal age marking the end of childhood and adolescence. Article 91 of the new Islamic Penal Code, approved in 2013, gives judges the option to refrain from issuing death sentences for children who do not understand “the nature of the crime or its prohibition.”

According to reports by Amnesty International and Iran’s Human Rights Organization, since the approval of Article 91 in Iran until 2017, at least 25 people have been executed for crimes they committed during childhood.

According to Amnesty International, Iran executed at least five prisoners last year alone who had committed crimes while under 18 years of age.

Source: DW