Arbour concerned about impending execution of four juvenile offenders in Iran

10 June 2008

GENEVA-- United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Louise Arbour expressed her concern on Tuesday over reports that four juvenile offenders in the Islamic Republic of Iran are at imminent risk of execution.

According to the reports received, the four – Mr. Behnoud Shojaaee, Mr. Mohammad Fadaaee, Mr. Saeed Jazee, and Mr. Behnam Zaare – have been sentenced to death for crimes that they committed when they were under 18 years old.

The High Commissioner acknowledged the steps taken by the Iranian authorities to subject these cases to closer judicial scrutiny, and to encourage settlements between perpetrators and victims’ families. But she reminded the Iranian authorities of the absolute prohibition on the application of the death penalty for juvenile offenders under international law.

The Islamic Republic of Iran is a party both to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and to the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), both of which which prohibit the death penalty for juvenile offenders.

Arbour requested the Islamic Republic of Iran to stay the executions of these four juvenile offenders in strict compliance with its international human rights obligations.