An Iranian judicial official announced Thursday that Iran will move to ban execution of juveniles. Over 130 juveniles are currently awaiting execution in Iran. Iran's Prosecuting General said their death sentences will be commuted to life behind bars. The announcement came a day after 300 non-governmental organizations from 82 countries urged the UN General Assembly to take action against execution of minors.
In 2004 Iran issued a similar directive banning executions of under-18s. However, judges continued to issue death sentences. Hadi Ghaemi, the US-based coordinator of the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, welcomed the latest move but cautioned that it had yet to be ratified and made into law.
Iran has signed both the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the Convention on the Rights of the Child. These treaties prohibit capital punishment. Homosexuality, for instance, is a capital offense in Iran. Over the years, Iran has persecuted numerous homosexuals. Many have fled and found refuge in Europe. Others were hung in public venues.
“The ban on juvenile execution is an important human rights development for sexual minorities, particularly those perceived to be gay,” said International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC) executive director Paula Ettelbrick. “All too frequently, young Iranian men have been executed as juveniles after being charged with sodomy and other sexual crimes. This is a positive step toward improving human rights in Iran.”
Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Pakistan and Sudan also issue death penalties to minors.
