‘Be Our Voice’

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Today, an anti death penalty in Iran campaign is launched.  Supported by Iranian human rights groups and political parties it condemns the death penalty and its shameful use as a political tool in Islamic Republic’s internal factional fighting.

 London, 3 February 2010 - The Islamic Republic unjustly executed its first minor on political charges on 27 January 2010. Four girls and 134 boys, all juvenile offenders, remain on death row in Iran. Today, 43 men and women are on death row for their political beliefs in Iran. Nine face imminent execution, another five are about to receive the death penalty…Since the beginning of 2009 to Ahmadinejad’s second term inauguration in August, 311 men, women and children have been executed – 196 before and 115 people were executed after the June 12 election an increase to at least two people a day …

 Today, an ‘Anti Death Penalty in Iran’ campaign is launched.  Supported by Iranian human rights groups and political parties the ‘Be Our Voice’ campaign condemns the death penalty as the ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment. It invites international support in condemning the Death Penalty in Iran and its shameful use as a political tool in Islamic Republic’s internal factional fighting. The organisers will present the statement and supporting documents to the UN Human Rights Council on 15 February 2010 where Islamic Republic’s human rights situation will be debated.

 The recent death sentences follow the unrest after the presidential election of June 12, 2009. Journalists and human rights defenders are among those receiving long prison sentences and floggings in unfair show trials even in violation of Islamic Republic’s own laws and regulations. To date eleven people have received the death penalty convicted of ‘warring against God’. Two were executed suddenly and unannounced last Thursday. There are worrying signs that others will be executed before 11 February Revolution Anniversary events.

 According to Amnesty the true total number of executions in Iran is almost certainly higher even than the number it has been able to record, which is based on official Iranian, media and other sources. In 2008, Amnesty recorded at least 346 executions in Iran, the second highest number (behind China) of any country in the world. Of these at least eight were child offenders - those convicted for crimes which took place when they were aged below 18.

 International public opinion has played a positive role in saving lives and reducing the use of torture and other cruel treatment of detainees. We ask you to be our voice…

Further information available on: http://www.aciiran.com/against_execution_in_iran.htm

Ms Roya Kashefi Head of Human Rights Committee, ACI is available for interviews.

About ACI

Association des Chercheurs Iraniens (ACI) is an intellectual forum of Iranians experts and scholars worldwide. ACI aims to offer a framework for the future of a democratic Iran. Its work centres on social, political, cultural, and economic planning.

 Attached:          Statement

                        List of initial signatories

                        List of Political Prisoners on Death Row

 Contact:           Roya Kashefi – Head of Human Rights Committee, ACI

                        Mobile:+44 7960 945 970, Email: rk@aciiran.com