Human Rights Commissioner expresses concern over execution of prisoners following protests in Iranian prisons

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, while condemning the execution of two juvenile offenders in Iran four days apart, expressed concern about the execution of other death row inmates for their participation in recent protests in Iranian prisons.

On Wednesday, May 23, Michelle Bachelet also called on the authorities of the Islamic Republic to investigate the death of Daniyal Zein al-Abedini due to "torture" in prison and punish the perpetrators of his death.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights issued a statement condemning the execution of Shayan Saeedpour and Majid Esmailzadeh, who were under 18 years of age at the time of the murder.

In his statement, he emphasized that the execution of Shayan Saeedpour and Majid Esmailzadeh, following protests by prisoners in a number of Iranian prisons, "raises concerns about the possibility of the execution of other death row inmates being expedited for participating in these protests."

Some Iranian prisons have witnessed prisoners protesting against the lack of leave and prison conditions in recent weeks, which in some cases led to riots.

Shayan Saeedpour was among 80 prisoners who escaped from Saqqez Prison on April 27. He was arrested again on April 5 and executed on May 2 in the central prison of Saqqez.

Ms. Bachelet says Saeedpour was sentenced to death for murder in a trial that was "deeply flawed" and that he was under 18 years old.

On April 20, it was also reported that Majid Esmailzadeh had been executed in Ardabil prison. He was also sentenced to death for murder when he was under 18 years old.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights announced in his statement that, despite his office's repeated contacts with the responsible institutions in Iran, the sentencing of juvenile offenders to death and their executions continue.

He condemned this behavior of the Islamic Republic government and once again called on Iran to comply with its obligations to international human rights standards, immediately halt the execution of all juvenile offenders, and cancel all death sentences in these cases.

Iran is one of four places in the world that executes juvenile offenders (those who committed crimes before the age of 18). Death sentences for juvenile offenders are also carried out in Saudi Arabia, areas controlled by the Houthi movement in Yemen, and the Gaza Strip.

Iran is executing criminals under the age of 18 despite having signed the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which prohibits the death penalty for children.

In the statement, Michelle Bachelet also stated that the killing of Daniel Zein al-Abedini in prison by "beating him is a gross violation of the right to life under international human rights law."

He called on the authorities of the Islamic Republic to investigate the death of Daniyal Zein al-Abedini as soon as possible and punish those responsible for the murder.

Previously, human rights organizations had reported that Daniyal Zein al-Abedini, a young man sentenced to death in Mahabad Prison, had been beaten to death by prison officers.

Zein al-Abedini and several other prisoners were beaten by prison guards and transferred to Miandoab Prison on April 10, 2019, on charges of playing a role in the Mahabad Prison prisoner riot.

According to reports from human rights organizations, he was also beaten by officers in Miandoab Prison and died.

Daniyal Zein al-Abedini murdered a teenager at the age of 17 and was sentenced to death.

Source: Radio Farda