Outrage after Iran executes 17-year-old

[News_Editor]

Outrage after Iran executes 17-year-old

2011-09-23 11:00:53 GMT+7 (ICT)

TEHRAN, IRAN (BNO NEWS) -- Iran on Wednesday executed a 17-year-old in public after murder charges, prompting the United Nations (UN) to voice concern over the situation.

Alireza Molla Soltani, 17, was reportedly sentenced to death last month for stabbing a popular athlete to death in mid-July, arguing that it was done in self-defense. Nonetheless, Iran publicly executed Soltani by hanging on Wednesday.

A group of independent UN human rights experts called once again for an immediate halt to the Iran's use of the death penalty, after condemning this recent execution of a teenager. They noted that the death penalty is widely accepted as an extreme punishment, and that it may only be imposed for the most serious crimes.

In a press release, the UN experts on the independence of the judiciary, and on torture expressed outrage at the execution practice in Iran "despite the international community's and our repeated calls for a moratorium."

"Any judgment imposing the death penalty upon juveniles below the age of 18, and their execution, are incompatible with Iran's international obligations," the experts underlined.

Over 200 people have been executed in Iran this year alone, the majority of whom were charged with drug-related offenses, according to the news release. Also on Wednesday, a man convicted of drug trafficking was hanged in Iran, local media reported.

"We, however, regret that execution is common practice for people charged with drug-related offenses, which do not amount to the most serious crimes," they stated.

The group of UN experts is conformed by Christof Heyns, Ahmed Shaheed, Gabriela Knaul and Juan Méndez. They went on to call on the Iranian Government to immediately implement a moratorium on the death penalty, particularly in drug-related and juvenile cases.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-09-23

[Credo]

I find it interesting that an execution by lethal injection in the US can draw several pages of posts, but the execution of a teenager by public hanging in Iran does not warrant a single post.

Apparently some lives are more worthy than others.

[Steely Dan]

I find it interesting that an execution by lethal injection in the US can draw several pages of posts, but the execution of a teenager by public hanging in Iran does not warrant a single post.

Apparently some lives are more worthy than others.

That's moral relativism for you. At least we are free to condemn either incident as we see fit, which is a luxury not afforded to much of the world.

[JUDAS]

I think the fact these stories from the likes of Iran don't draw much comment is down to the simple fact that there is nothing surprising in the OP. Do any of us actually expect higher standards of justice etc from Iran?

[Scott]

Numerous off-topic posts have been removed. This thread is about an execution in Iran. Stay on-topic please.

[TAWP]

If the kid was guilty, why would we object?