Human Rights Watch Calls for Cancellation of Samaneh Nasim's Death Sentence

Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have warned about the imminent execution of Samaneh Nasim, who was tried in Iran at the age of 17 on charges of moharebeh (waging war against God), and called for a halt to this action. A statement released by Human Rights Watch on Tuesday, February 21, indicates that the Supreme Court has upheld Samaneh Nasim's death sentence, and now his family and lawyer are concerned that this sentence may be carried out in less than two weeks. While international laws completely prohibit the execution of defendants who are minors, Human Rights Watch cites reports from Iranian media stating that the Islamic Republic has executed at least eight individuals despite their young age since 2010. According to Sarah Leah Whitson, the Middle East director of Human Rights Watch, there is no doubt that Samaneh Nasim was under 18 when Iranian security forces arrested him, and therefore he and his family have never deserved the anxiety of a death sentence and its execution. However, Samaneh Nasim's lawyer and a person close to his family have informed Human Rights Watch that they have learned that the Iranian judiciary's execution circle is planning to execute him in Urmia prison by the end of February. The statement notes that the Revolutionary Court of Mahabad sentenced Samaneh Nasim to death two years ago for what it called membership in the PJAK group, but documents obtained by Human Rights Watch indicate that Samaneh Nasim was only 17 at the time of his arrest in 2011. Human Rights Watch states that the Supreme Court initially annulled Samaneh Nasim's death sentence due to his young age, but ultimately confirmed the sentence. In this context, Amnesty International also issued a statement urging Iranian authorities to immediately halt the execution of Samaneh Nasim and review his case. The organization's statement reminds that Iran has signed international treaties regarding civil and political rights and children's rights, which strictly prohibit the issuance of death sentences for individuals who were under 18 at the time of their crime. Amnesty International, based on court documents, states that Samaneh Nasim confessed during interrogations that he shot at the IRGC forces during a clash in the summer of 2011, but he denied this confession in the first court session, claiming he was coerced into signing the confession. The statement mentions that Samaneh Nasim did not have access to his lawyer during interrogations and, as he later stated, was subjected to torture.