AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL

Public Statement

AI Index: MDE 13/005/2004
News Service No: 020
28 January 2004




Amnesty International today urged Iran's judicial authorities to halt further executions of child offenders.

The organization expressed dismay at the reported execution in Ilam, western Iran, on 25 January 2004, of Mohammad Mohammadzadeh, 21, who is said to have murdered an individual four years ago, while a child offender, a person under the age of 18 at the time of the crime.

This is reportedly the eighth execution of a child offender in Iran since 1990.

Amnesty International is concerned that this execution was carried out following approval by parliament in December 2003 of a bill concerning the establishment of special courts for minors, which brought Iran's law in line with international law by removing provisions for the execution of child offenders.

Amnesty International stated that the execution of Mohammad Mohammadzadeh makes ratification of the bill by the Guardian Council, the highest legislative body, and its implementation an urgent necessity to prevent further executions of child offenders.

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