The Killer of Setayesh Ghareishi Executed

The death sentence of the killer of Setayesh Ghareishi, a six-year-old Afghan girl who was murdered by a 16-year-old teenager, was carried out on Thursday morning. Setayesh Ghareishi, who lived in the village of Kheirabad in Varamin, was kidnapped in April 2016 by a neighbor named Amir Hossein Pour Jafar, who then raped and killed her. Gholam Hossein Esmaeili, the head of the Tehran judiciary, announced the execution of Amir Hossein, stating that 'considering the request and insistence of Setayesh Ghareishi's family and after completing all legal processes and formalities, the issued sentence, which had been confirmed by the Supreme Court, was executed.' According to reports, the execution took place in Varamin prison in the presence of the victim's family and a representative of the prosecutor's office. In April 2016, Setayesh's body was found in Amir Hossein's home a day after she went missing while going out to buy ice cream. Due to the widespread attention this case received on social media and Iranian media, it was prioritized by the Varamin prosecutor's office. On January 10, 2017, the 32nd branch of the Supreme Court confirmed the death sentence issued by the 7th branch of the Tehran Criminal Court for the killer for 'committing murder by retribution, rape' and ordered compensation for the 'crime against the deceased.' The execution of the young killer of Setayesh Ghareishi occurred despite previous calls from United Nations human rights experts for the Iranian judiciary to halt the execution of Amir Hossein Pour Jafar. In a statement published by the UN Human Rights Committee, it was noted that the accused was 16 years old at the time of the crime and therefore should not be considered an adult. The committee reminded that executing someone who committed a crime as a minor is contrary to international treaties that Iran recognizes. The treaty referenced by the UN Human Rights Committee urges member states not to carry out death sentences against individuals who committed crimes under the age of 18. Iran recognizes the 'International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights' and the 'Convention on the Rights of the Child,' yet has repeatedly executed individuals who committed crimes while under 18. Amnesty International also issued a similar statement, describing the incident of the rape and murder of the seven-year-old girl as 'horrific' and reminding that Pour Jafar was under 18 at the time of the murder, and his execution violates international laws and treaties. The rape and murder of Setayesh Ghareishi sparked widespread reactions in Iran. On April 19 of last year, police prevented a gathering in front of the Afghan embassy to light candles and express condolences to Setayesh's family, arresting several individuals. At that time, a group called the 'Youth Civil Society Association of Afghanistan' warned the Iranian government that if the killer of Setayesh Ghareishi was not executed soon, they would 'shut down the Iranian embassy in Kabul with their civil movements.'