Amnesty blasts Iran for executing 73 juveniles in last decade
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 26 January 2016 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Amnesty blasts Iran for executing 73 juveniles in last decade, 26 January 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/56c4295329.html [accessed 4 November 2019] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
January 26, 2016
By RFE/RL
Amnesty International in a new report has blasted Iran for executing dozens of young people for crimes they committed as juveniles.
The report says dozens of people arrested for crimes such as rape, murder, and drug abuse committed before they turned 18 are at risk of being executed despite recent judicial reforms, with many having already spent years on death row.
The London-based group said Iran already executed at least 73 juvenile offenders between 2005 and 2015.
Iranian authorities have contended that they have reformed their judicial system and don't actually put anyone younger than 18 to death.
But Elise Auerbach, Amnesty's Iran specialist, said the "paper reforms to Iran's Penal Code and practices have actually failed to prevent juveniles from being executed or sentenced to death."
She called Iran's claim that it does not execute juveniles because it postpones the executions until they turn 18 "disingenuous" and "a fallacy."
The 110-page report comes as Tehran is working to rebuild relations with the West following last year's landmark nuclear deal.
Iran is one of the world's largest users of the death penalty, ranking second behind China in 2014. Most executions in Iran are carried out for drug smuggling.
With reporting by AP
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
