Stop Child Offender Executions in Iran

Delara Darabi

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.

http://www.facebook.com/ext/share.php?sid=89356461933&h=G_Mi2&u=MKDeC&ref=mf

Ayatollah Sayed Ali Khamenei - His Excellency

I am writing to you to express my deep concern about the imposition of the death penalty for child offenders in Iran. At the current time, at least 130 child offenders are reportedly facing the death penalty in Iran. Iran is the only country in the world known to have executed a child offender in 2008.

I am especially disappointed that, even though a statement issued by your government on October 16, 2008, appeared to announce a moratorium on the execution of all child offenders, a second statement issued on October 18 clarified that the moratorium would not apply to those sentenced to qesas or retribution. I am further deeply disturbed at the execution on October 29 of Gholamreza H. who was seventeen at the time of his alleged crime. He is the seventh known juvenile offender to have been executed so far this year.

Iran is a state party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights which states in Article 6 that, “Sentence of death shall not be imposed for crimes committed by persons below eighteen years of age.” The Convention on the Rights of the Child, to which Iran is also a state party, states in Article 37 that, “Neither capital punishment nor life imprisonment without the possibility of release shall be imposed for offenses committed by persons below eighteen years of age.” On September 2, 2008, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights called on Iran to end juvenile executions.

I urge you to overturn the death sentences of all child offenders in Iran and to implement a moratorium on all executions of those convicted of crimes committed before they were 18 years of age, including those who were sentenced to qesas.

Thank you very much for your attention to this matter.



http://blog.amnestyusa.org/deathpenalty/two-more-child-offenders-face-execution-in-iran-tomorrow/

Stay of Execution for Troy Davis

Troy Davis Rally in Paris

From Amnesty International USA 25th October 2008


I am delighted to share some good news with you! Troy Davis received a stay of execution based on a new last-minute appeal filed this past Wednesday to the federal appeals court in Atlanta. As a result, he will not be executed on Monday, October 27th, as originally scheduled.

Your action has succeeded in putting a spotlight on Troy's case worldwide and bringing about this victory. At least 300,000 individuals have written letters in support of Troy. Additionally, prominent leaders such as former President Jimmy Carter, the Pope, and Archbishop Desmond Tutu have all called for justice in this case.



Yesterday, Amnesty International organized a Global Day of Action in which hundreds of activists in dozens of countries around the world came together to stand in solidarity for Troy. From Atlanta to Seattle, New York to Paris and Milan– hundreds of supporters gathered at rallies wearing T-shirts and holding signs that read "I am Troy Davis." On Wednesday, the European Legislature issued a statement calling for Troy's execution to be halted.

While we pause to celebrate this good news, we cannot forget that Troy still faces the very real possibility of execution—despite the fact that no physical evidence tied him to the 1989 murder of a police officer in Savannah, GA, and that 7 of the 9 eyewitnesses have since recanted their testimony.

This case has taken many twists and turns. On September 12th, the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles denied clemency for Troy Anthony Davis, and scheduled his execution for September 23rd. The U.S. Supreme Court stayed Davis' execution just hours before it was scheduled to take place. But in deciding not to hear his case, the court lifted its stay and a new execution date was set for Monday, October 27th.


Martina Davis at the Paris Rally

We now await the decision of the federal appeals court, which will determine whether Troy's case warrants a new hearing. We believe their ruling could happen at any time during the next month. I want to thank you again for playing such an essential part in Amnesty International's efforts to bring justice for Troy Davis. That's why I hope you'll take a minute right now to join Amnesty International and help us keep up this fight.

To stay informed about Troy Davis' case and to find out how to take additional actions, please visit:
www.amnestyusa.org/troydavis

A Death in the state of Georgia

Troy set to be executed today!

In the sad event that there is no intervention today, Troy Davis will be executed by the state of Georgia at 7 p.m.

Please make one last attempt to halt the execution of a potentially innocent man. Call the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles and the Georgia Attorney General's Office and urge them to stop the execution.

BOARD OF PARDONS AND PAROLES: 404-657-9350

GEORGIA ATTORNEY GENERAL: 404-656-3300

Mr. Davis' serious claims of innocence, which include the recantation of 7 out of 9 witnesses, have never been heard in court. Further, no murder weapon was found and no physical evidence linked Davis to the crime.

For more information visit: http://www.amnestyusa.org/death-penalty/troy-davis-finality-over-fairness/page.do?id=1011343&n1=3&n2=28&n3=1412

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Thanks for taking the time to support fairness for Troy Davis. If you have not already done so, please forward this urgent action (http://www.amnestyusa.org/troydavis) to all of your friends.

In solidarity,
The Campaign to Abolish the Death Penalty
Amnesty International USA

Your message was sent to:

Georgia State Board State Board of Pardons & Paroles

I was saddened to learn that you denied clemency to Troy Anthony Davis on September 12, but I recognize that you can revisit this decision at any time between now and September 23. I strongly urge you to do so.

I welcomed your decision to stay the execution of Troy Davis in July 2007. When you issued this decision, you stated that the Board "will not allow an execution to proceed in this State unless and until its members are convinced that there is no doubt as to the guilt of the accused." In March, the Georgia Supreme Court denied Troy Davis a hearing, so doubts of his guilt will always remain. Please be true to your words of last year and commute the death sentence of Troy Davis.

As you know, Mr. Davis has been on death row in Georgia for more than 15 years for the murder of a police officer he maintains that he did not commit. Davis' conviction was not based on any physical evidence, and the murder weapon was never found. Instead, the case was based solely on the testimony of witnesses, many of whom now allege police coercion, and most of whom have since recanted their testimony. Despite mounting evidence that Davis may in fact be innocent of the crime, appeals to courts to hold a hearing on this evidence have been repeatedly denied for procedural reasons.

This case has generated widespread attention, which reflects serious concerns in Georgia and throughout the United States about the potential for executing an innocent man. Nothing can undermine public faith in a criminal justice system faster than an execution when serious doubts about guilt have not been resolved. The power of clemency exists as a safety net to prevent such an irreversible error and preserve public confidence in the state’s capacity for justice. The integrity of justice in Georgia is at stake in this case, and I urge you to reconsider your September 12 decision and stop the execution of Troy Davis.

Thank you for your consideration.

Supreme Court Rules That Death Penalty Is 'Totally Badass'

Supreme Court Rules That Death Penalty Is 'Totally Badass'