Warning from Two Human Rights Organizations About the Possible Execution of Another Child Offender in Iran

Amnesty International issued a statement warning about the potential execution of a child offender in Shiraz prison. In the statement released on Friday, October 19, the Islamic Republic authorities were urged to immediately halt the execution of Mohammad Reza Azizi, a 21-year-old prisoner who was only 17 at the time of the crime and arrest. According to the statement from this human rights organization, Iranian judicial officials intend to carry out the execution of this young man on October 21. Meanwhile, the Norway-based Iran Human Rights Organization announced that the scheduled date for his execution is October 20. Sara Hashash, Deputy Director of Amnesty International for the Middle East and North Africa, referred to the 'clear contradiction' of issuing and executing death sentences for child offenders with international laws, calling the continuation of this trend in Iran a sign of 'the oppression of the Islamic Republic authorities.' According to this Amnesty International official, the violation of the right to life of children and those who were under 18 at the time of the crime not only contradicts international human rights law and other civil laws but also questions Iran's international commitments and obligations. At the same time, the director of the Iran Human Rights Organization urged the international community to work for the salvation of Mohammad Reza Azizi and the abolition of the death penalty in Iran, especially for children. Mahmoud Amiri Moghaddam pointed out the illegality of issuing death sentences for individuals under 18 at the time of the crime, describing the judicial process concerning Mohammad Reza Azizi's case as having 'serious and significant flaws.' This organization, based on documents it has obtained, announced that Mohammad Reza Azizi was only 17 years and 27 days old at the time of his arrest on September 20, 2020. Both Amnesty International and Iran Human Rights have emphasized that the specialized psychiatric commission of the forensic medicine organization in Shiraz, based on Article 91 of the Islamic Penal Code, confirmed Mohammad Reza Azizi's growth and mental health and maturity with 'superficial' examinations limited to 'confirming his name and surname.' Amnesty International has repeatedly called on judges and forensic medical specialists in Iran to stop these 'maturity assessment' tests. According to the documents from these two human rights organizations, Mohammad Reza Azizi was injured by a knife during a confrontation when he was only 17 years old, and then 'in self-defense, he used a knife, which led to the death of the victim.' The first branch of the Fars province criminal court sentenced him to death on August 15, 2021, less than a year after his arrest, while Mohammad Reza Azizi was still under 18, based solely on his 'initial confessions.' Fourteen months later, the Iranian Supreme Court upheld this sentence, and a year and a half later, the request for appeal by Mr. Azizi's family was rejected. Iran is one of the few countries that issues death sentences for child offenders. This country also executes child offenders more than any other country. Meanwhile, Iran, as a member of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, is legally obligated to consider individuals under 18 as 'children' and ensure that they are never subjected to the death penalty or life imprisonment without the possibility of reduction. This year, at least one other child offender named Mehdi Jahampour was executed in Adelabad prison in Shiraz.