Amnesty International Protests the Imminent Execution of Afsaneh Nouroozi

Amnesty International calls on everyone to raise their voice against the imminent execution of an Iranian woman: The Amnesty International branch in the USA, under a section called the Human Rights Action Center, urges everyone to take action regarding the imminent execution of Afsaneh Nouroozi in Iran. Amnesty International states that Afsaneh Nouroozi was arrested after killing the head of the intelligence police of Kish Island in southern Iran in 1997. She apparently committed this act in self-defense to prevent sexual assault. Afsaneh Nouroozi is now at risk of imminent death after her death sentence was confirmed by the Supreme Court. Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, the spiritual leader of Iran, is the only one who can grant her clemency at this stage. The center has prepared a letter addressed to Ayatollah Khamenei on its website, which visitors can sign and send online to the Iranian spiritual leader. The letter references the defense of Afsaneh Nouroozi's lawyer and Article 61 of the Islamic Penal Code of Iran. This article states that if the life, dignity, chastity, property, and freedom of the accused are under imminent threat and the accused has taken action to protect themselves, and this action meets all the mentioned conditions, that person should not be prosecuted. The Guardian newspaper also mentioned this issue in its September 27 issue, stating that Afsaneh Nouroozi, who is 32 years old, was arrested and imprisoned six years ago after killing the head of the intelligence police of Kish Island. In court, she claimed her act was self-defense, and her lawyer argued that her actions were within the framework of Iranian criminal laws and should not be prosecuted. However, just two days prior, in another country on the African continent, a Sharia appellate court freed a woman sentenced to death by stoning. Amnesty International stated that Amina Lawal, this Nigerian woman, should never have been taken to court in the first place. No human being should be subjected to such a process. To visit the Amnesty International USA website, click the following link: http://takeaction.amnestyusa.org/action/index.asp?step=2&item=10335.