Three Minors Rescued From Execution As Victims’ Families Join the Committee Against the Execution

• Over the past 30 years of the Islamic Republic’s reign in Iran the execution of minors has been one of the most controversial and malicious acts incorporated in the system. This vindictive and murderous regime shows no mercy towards children. Under the laws enforced by this regime, convicted children are kept in the unsuitable environment of prison and are physically and emotionally abused on a regular basis. As soon as they reach the age of 18 they are executed.

In reaction to such barbaric behaviour, people in Iran and many countries worldwide have voiced their resentment and hatred towards the regime responsible for these abominable acts. Furthermore, the Islamic Republic of Iran has faced vast international protests for the termination of such executions.
Iran’s judicial system is remote from any contemporary judicial system and can be more closely linked to that of medieval times. This barbaric regime provides the most unjust and imprecise trials for the defendants and the families of victims. In addition, there is no accurate investigation or analysis of such proceedings. Furthermore the judiciary of Iran leaves the faith of the defendant’s life in the hands of the victim’s family. Is it not enough that the victim’s family have already suffered loss? But that they must also make a critical decision, for another individual’s life, in an unstable emotional state.
In the Islamic Republic of Iran, the judiciary is founded on the old-fashioned “eye for an eye” notion. This being said, a man’s blood in the IRI system is worth double that of a woman, when it comes to paying blood money.
In spite of many international oppositional movements against the system administered in the Islamic Republic of Iran, many minors have been executed in the past few years. Behnoud Shojai is the most recent case of minor execution in Iran that acknowledged worldwide to stimulate international awareness and hatred towards the regime.
According to most recent news, three individuals have been rescued from execution in the past week. The victims’ families have pardoned them and requested that their execution be annuled. Amir Khaleghi, 18, who committed a murder at the age of 16 and Mostafa Naghdi, also convicted of murder, are two such individuals who were awaiting reaching the age of 18 to be executed. However, their lives were spared thanks to the victims’ families’ view opposing execution.
The sister of a murdered middle aged woman travelled from the United States to Iran to attend court. She opposed the execution of the accused killer, Majid, because he was a juvenile at the time of the crime. She has asked Majid’s family for blood money that she will spend to create a charitable foundation to cherish her sister’s memory.

This is the reaction of the people who are fed up with misdemeanors, murders and the Islamic Republic overall. This is the response of victims’ families who have lost loved ones and are faced with a contemptuous justice system. Not only does this system pass unjust and feeble judgments, but it also fails to sympathize with a victim’s family. Instead, the justice system drags these families into another complex dilemma by subjecting them to deciding the fate of the defendant. Unable to bear the death of their loved ones, they are catapulted into a decision to take the life of another individual.
The International Committee Against Execution (ICAE) would like to thank the mourning families of Massood Rouzbahani, Ali Malekpour, and Taj-Parvar for their humane and civilized act in sparing the life of those on death row. In addition, the ICAE would also like to thank all those who have been continuously fighting to put an end to the death penalty. This is just part of our movement to eliminate premeditated murders and bloodthirstiness committed by the government.