Just five days after the execution of child offender Delara Darabi in Iran, the government there is set to kill two more juvenile offenders tomorrow.
This news comes despite widespread international consensus that because of children’s immaturity, impulsiveness, vulnerability and capacity for rehabilitation, their lives should not be written off so permanently – regardless of the severity of the crimes they are convicted.
Amir Khaleqi and Safar Angooti are set to be executed early Wednesday, May 6, at 4 a.m. local time in Evin prison. The scheduling of these executions, just days after killing Delara Darabi, show that the Iranian authorities have total disregard for international law which unequivocally bans the execution of those convicted of crimes committed under the age of 18.
According to their lawyer, Mohammad Mostafaie, Amir Khaleqi killed a man during a fight when he was drunk. Amir does not remember how the incident happened but was so remorseful that he turned himself into the police. He was 16 years old at the time. Amir was eventually convicted, despite the court taking into consideration that he was intoxicated, and a juvenile offender.
Safar Angooti was convicted of murder at age 17. According to the newspaper Etemad, in April 2008, Safar Angooti stabbed a rival suitor who was talking to a girl he liked and was sentenced to death. Safar claimed that he had killed the man but not intentionally. At least 135 other juvenile offenders are also known to be on death row in Iran.
Amnesty members are launching worldwide activities tomorrow in front of Iranian embassies hoping the publicity will stop tomorrow’s possible execution of Amir Khaleqi and Safar Angooti. You can take action right now by sending a message to Iranian authorities demanding an end to the executions of child offenders in Iran.
No more death penalty and no more war. How can one of the oldest civilizations still resort to such primitive means to improve understanding without trying kindness, patience and compassion in order to change the way human beings act to one another?
No more death penalty and no more war. How can one of the oldest civilizations still resort to such primitive means to improve understanding without trying kindness, patience and compassion in order to change the way human beings act to one another?
I have been reading all the posts about child offenders in the last months, and now I publish the original texts in English, and in Portuguese (translating them myself) in my human rights blog. I know it is a small step, but I hope that it will help to spread awareness about these horrible and medieval actions against children in my country (Brazil) and, maybe, around the world, so something bigger and more efficient can de done to stop this non-sense.
@ Nicole – Thanks so much for helping to spread the word about child executions. If it's helpful to you, we have information and stats on the use of the death penalty worldwide on our website here: http://www.amnestyusa.org/death-penalty/internati…
@ Nicole – Thanks so much for helping to spread the word about child executions. If it's helpful to you, we have information and stats on the use of the death penalty worldwide on our website here: http://www.amnestyusa.org/death-penalty/internati…
@ Nicole – Thanks so much for helping to spread the word about child executions. If it's helpful to you, we have information and stats on the use of the death penalty worldwide on our website here: http://www.amnestyusa.org/death-penalty/internati…
I have been reading all the posts about child offenders in the last months, and now I publish the original texts in English, and in Portuguese (translating them myself) in my human rights blog. I know it is a small step, but I hope that it will help to spread awareness about these horrible and medieval actions against children in my country (Brazil) and, maybe, around the world, so something bigger and more efficient can de done to stop this non-sense.
Dear translators,
Thank you very much 🙂
I just finished translating the article about Amir Khaleqi and Safar Angooti. I will post it and then read your link suggestion–I scanned it briefly and I am sure it will be useful. I will start translating it tomorrow, so people can read it in Portuguese very soon.
Thank you once again for your efforts in spreading awareness, stimulating action, and for taking time to reply to my comment and offering more information.
Kind regards,
Nicole Rodrigues
@ Nicole – Thanks so much for helping to spread the word about child executions. If it’s helpful to you, we have information and stats on the use of the death penalty worldwide on our website here: http://www.amnestyusa.org/death-penalty/international-death-penalty/page.do?id=1101074
Dear translators,
Thank you very much 🙂
I just finished translating the article about Amir Khaleqi and Safar Angooti. I will post it and then read your link suggestion–I scanned it briefly and I am sure it will be useful. I will start translating it tomorrow, so people can read it in Portuguese very soon.
Thank you once again for your efforts in spreading awareness, stimulating action, and for taking time to reply to my comment and offering more information.
Kind regards,
Nicole Rodrigues
Dear Editors,
Good luck with this one. Hope …
Dear Editors,
Good luck with this one. Hope …