The U.S. Expresses Deep Concern Over the Possible Execution of Saman Nasim

The spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State expressed deep concern over reports regarding the 'imminent' execution of Saman Nasim and urged the Islamic Republic to adhere to 'fair trial standards.' Jen Psaki emphasized during a press conference on February 18 that this Kurdish prisoner, sentenced to death, was arrested at the age of 17 and claims he was forced to confess under torture. Referring to a report by Ahmed Shaheed, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Iran, regarding the execution of at least eight Iranian minors in 2014, she called on the Islamic Republic to respect the guarantees of fair trial that it has promised its people according to its own laws and international commitments. According to Human Rights Watch, Saman Nasim was arrested at the age of 17 and subsequently sentenced to death on charges of 'moharebeh' (waging war against God) due to alleged membership in the PJAK group. Human rights activists say he, along with four other prisoners, has been transferred to an unknown location for the execution of their sentences, while on Thursday, Saman Nasim's family expressed their ignorance about his situation. On February 12, Saman Nasim announced from inside Urmia Central Prison that during his 97 days of detention, he was forced to make false confessions under what he described as 'inhumane and illegal' torture, and based on these confessions, he was sentenced to death. Salil Shetty, Secretary General of Amnesty International, in a video message directed at Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, stated that executing someone who was a minor at the time of the crime is against all international treaties that Iran has signed, urging him to prevent Saman Nasim's execution. Ahmed Shaheed and Christof Heyns, UN Special Rapporteurs on Human Rights in Iran and extrajudicial killings, respectively, have also called for a halt to the execution of this prisoner. In his report on the human rights situation in Iran, Ahmed Shaheed stated that in 2014 alone, eight individuals who were believed to be under 18 at the time of their alleged crimes were executed. In addition to international organizations, 11 political and civil activists from Iranian Kurdistan have sent a letter to Mahmoud Alavi, the Minister of Intelligence, requesting a halt to Saman Nasim's execution. They urged the Minister to provide another opportunity for 'peace, security, and true brotherhood' by stopping this sentence. Following a hunger strike by several Kurdish prisoners in December, including 10 sentenced to death, Amnesty International expressed concern on December 25 that Iranian officials had 'threatened to expedite' the executions of these prisoners. The organization specifically mentioned Saman Nasim on its website. The Human Rights Support Center's website listed Saman Nasim, Seyed Sam Hosseini, Jamal Mohammadi, Behrouz Alkhani, Ali Ahmad Soleiman, Sirwan Najavi, Ebrahim Eysipour, Ali Afshari, Razgar Afshari, and Mohammad Abdollahi as 10 Kurdish prisoners sentenced to death.