UN Commission Calls for Halt to Death Sentence of Murder Suspect of Setayesh Qureshi

United Nations human rights experts have issued a statement urging the Iranian judiciary to prevent the execution of Amir Hossein Pourjafar, the perpetrator of the rape and murder of a seven-year-old Afghan girl. They emphasized that the accused was 16 years old at the time of the crime and therefore should not be considered an adult. The statement, published on October 18 by the UN Human Rights Committee, states, "Iranian authorities must immediately stop the execution of a suspect who committed the crime as a minor." The committee reminded that executing someone who committed a crime as a minor is contrary to international treaties that Iran recognizes. The treaty referred to by the UN Human Rights Committee calls on member states not to carry out the death penalty 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," but has repeatedly executed individuals who committed crimes while under 18. The UN Human Rights Committee states that Iran continues to carry out these executions. A month ago, Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, reported to the Human Rights Council that Iran is "one of the few countries" that continues to execute individuals who committed crimes under the legal age. The recent statement from the UN Human Rights Council was released just days after a similar statement from Amnesty International and on the eve of the scheduled execution of Amir Hossein Pourjafar. In its statement on October 14, Amnesty International described the incident of the rape and murder of the seven-year-old girl as "horrific" and reminded that Pourjafar was under 18 at the time of the murder, and his execution would violate international laws and treaties. The rape and murder of Setayesh Qureshi, a seven-year-old Afghan girl, in Farvardin of last year in Varamin, received widespread reactions in Iran. On April 19 of that year, the police prevented a gathering in front of the Afghan embassy to light candles and express sympathy with Setayesh's family, arresting several individuals. At that time, a group called the "Afghan Youth Civil Society Association" warned the Iranian government that if the perpetrator of Setayesh Qureshi's murder was not executed soon, they would "shut down the Iranian embassy in Kabul with their civil movements." Reports indicate that Amir Hossein Pourjafar attempted to destroy the girl's body with acid after abducting and murdering her. Abolqasem Moradtalab, the public and revolutionary prosecutor of Varamin, announced that his death sentence would be carried out. Reports indicate that the execution is set to take place on Thursday, October 19.