Stop the Execution of Child Offenders in Iran

Iran is one of the only countries in the world that still executes children and child
offenders. At least 14 child offenders have been executed in Iran in the last two years. On
October 16, 2008, The Government of Iran announced an end to this shameful practice,
but on October 18 Iran clarified that this directive would not apply to child offenders
sentenced to qesas or retribution. The vast majority of the more than 130 juveniles
sentenced to death in Iran still face execution.

Urge Ayatollah Sayed Ali Khamenei to overturn the death sentences of all child offenders
in Iran. A sample letter has been provided, but please be encouraged to express your own
thoughts.

Send message to:

Ayatollah Sayed Ali Khamenei

The Office of the Supreme Leader
Islamic Republic Street - Shahid Keshvar Doust Street
Tehran
ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN

Email: info@leader.ir
(In the subject line write: FAO Ayatollah Khamenei)

Your 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.

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.

Sincerely,