Execution of Three Teenagers in Iran; Human Rights Watch Calls for Halt to Executions of Juvenile Offenders

Following the execution of three individuals in January who were under 18 at the time of their crimes, Human Rights Watch has urged the Iranian government to stop executing juvenile offenders. The New York-based organization stated in a press release on Wednesday, February 7, that "Iran must immediately and unconditionally halt the execution of individuals who were under 18 at the time of their crimes and move towards the complete abolition of the death penalty." The statement detailed the executions of three offenders in January: Amir Hosseinpour Jafar, Ali Kazemi, and Mahboubeh Mofidi. Amir Hosseinpour Jafar, aged 18, was executed on January 4 in Karaj prison for the rape and murder of a three-year-old girl when he was 16. Ali Kazemi, who reportedly killed a man with a knife at the age of 15 during a fight, was executed on January 30. Mahboubeh Mofidi, aged 20, who killed her husband at the age of 16 after four years of marriage, was also executed on the same day. The news of these executions came shortly after Iran's judiciary approved new laws that will reduce the execution of drug offenders, thereby sparing thousands from the death penalty. Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East director at Human Rights Watch, stated: "It seems Iran intends to negate any positive impact from the minimal reforms in the death penalty law for drug offenders by executing juvenile offenders." This human rights organization adds: "Iran is one of only four countries that have executed juvenile offenders since 2013," with the others being Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Yemen. Amnesty International also reports that at least 87 people have been executed in Iran for crimes committed while under 18 from 2005 to the beginning of this year.