Iranian human rights group calls for end to death sentences

Iranian human rights group calls for end to death sentences

Council of Human Rights Defenders condemns the 13 execution sentences handed to Iran’s post-election detainees and urges the judiciary to stop issuing such sentences.

In a letter addressed to Sadegh Larijani, head of the Iranian Judiciary, the council urges the official to find “a wise path” to handle the issued death sentences and to release the political prisoners.

In the post-election events, over 13 death sentences have been issued by Iranian courts and so far two of these sentences have been executed.

Mohammad Ali Zamani and Arash Rahmanipour are the two dissidents who were hanged in recent months in Tehran.

Shirin Ebadi, head of the Council of Human Rights Defenders, expressed grave concern regarding the death sentence handed to Mohammad Amin Valian, the 20-year-old student of Damghan University. She warns against the politicization of the judiciary by these sentences.

Shirin Ebadi expresses awe that “The murderers of our youth who created the catastrophes of Kahrizak and University of Tehran dorm are living in complete peace and security while the protesting youth are receiving death sentences on the charge of enmity with God.”

Four post-election protesters were killed under torture at Kahrizak prison and others subjected to harsh abuse. The University of Tehran dorm was also attacked in June of last year and students protesting the alleged fraud in the presidential elections were beaten and by some reports even killed.

In the post-election protests, at least 40 people have been killed and scores have been injured. Hundreds of political activists and journalists have been arrested and put to trial, some of them receiving heavy prison terms.