UN experts call on Iran to halt execution of Hossein Shahbazi

On Thursday, July 23, United Nations human rights experts called on the Islamic Republic of Iran to refrain from executing Hossein Shahbazi, who is scheduled to be executed in four days.

The request, which is reflected on the website of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, emphasizes that Mr. Shahbazi was a child at the time of the crime and was tortured to make him confess.

UN human rights experts have expressed "deep concern" about Shahbazi's situation, especially since the Iranian judiciary may execute him even sooner than previously announced.

Hossein Shahbazi was arrested three years ago when he was 17. UN human rights experts say the execution of those who were under 18 at the time of the crime violates international human rights law.

Previously, Amnesty International had expressed concern about the imminent risk of execution of Hossein Shahbazi.

According to a statement by Amnesty International, Hossein Shahbazi was arrested on January 28, 2018, and while being held in the Shiraz Intelligence Detention Center, he was denied access to his lawyer and family for 11 days. The statement continued by stating that Mr. Shahbazi was ultimately “sentenced to death on January 23, 2019, following a grossly unfair trial by Branch 3 of the Criminal Court of Fars Province, and this sentence was upheld by the Supreme Court on June 17, 2020.”

In numerous reports, Voice of America has stated, citing human rights organizations and Amnesty International, that at least 90 child criminals in Iran are at risk of execution, and Amnesty International has repeatedly called on Iranian authorities to completely abolish the death penalty for crimes committed by persons under the age of 18 by amending Article 91 of the Islamic Penal Code approved in 2013.

Source: Voice of America