Iran: Man arrested at just 15 is hours away from execution – Amnesty International
The Iranian authorities must halt the imminent execution of Alireza Tajiki who was arrested as a child, said Amnesty International today, after learning that he was transferred to solitary confinement this morning and is due to be executed in less than 24 hours in Shirazs Adel Abad prison.
This is an utterly shameless act by the Iranian authorities
Alireza Tajiki was just 15 at the time of his arrest and 16 when he was convicted and sentenced to death. He was transferred to solitary confinement in Adel Abad prison in Shiraz, Fars Province, on 9 August. His family were told to come to prison in order to make their final visit. The authorities did not inform his legal representatives, contrary to Irans own laws, which require lawyers to be informed of their clients scheduled execution at least 48 hours in advance.
This is an utterly shameless act by the Iranian authorities. They are keenly aware that using the death penalty against someone who was under 18 years of age at the time of crime is in flagrant breach of Irans obligations under international human rights law, including the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, said Magdalena Mughrabi, Deputy Director for the Middle East and North Africa at Amnesty International.
Despite this, time and again Irans judicial authorities and lawmakers have failed to take any steps to once and for all end the use of the death penalty against juvenile offenders. The Iranian authorities must immediately halt any plans to execute Alireza Tajiki.
Alireza Tajiki, now 21 years old, was sentenced to death in April 2013 after a criminal court in Fars Province, southern Iran, convicted him of murder and lavat-e be-onf (male on male rape). The trial was grossly unfair and relied primarily on confessions which Alireza Tajiki has said where extracted through torture, including severe beatings, floggings, and suspension by arms and feet.
Both the lower court in Fars Province and the Supreme Court relied on state forensic opinions stating that Alireza Tajiki was mature at the age of 15 and thus eligible to receive the death penalty. In a subsequent response to the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in October 2016, the representatives of Iran reiterated their outrageous position that Alireza Tajiki had sound intellect and understanding about unlawfulness of the committed acts and their punishment at the time of the crime when he was 15 years old and therefore could be punished with the death penalty.
The Iranian authorities must immediately halt any plans to execute Alireza Tajiki
Alireza Tajiki was first arrested in May 2012 and placed in solitary confinement for 15 days, without access to his family. He was denied access to a lawyer throughout the entire investigation process. He has said that during this period he was subjected to torture and other ill-treatment to confess to the crime. He later retracted the confessions both before the prosecution authorities and during his trial, and has since maintained his innocence consistently. However, despite this, his confession was admitted as evidence during proceedings against him.
The Iranian authorities are demonstrating once again their callous disregard for childrens rights as well as fair trial standards. This is now the third time since May 2016 that the authorities have scheduled Alireza Tajikis execution. Rather than repeatedly tormenting Alireza Tajiki with execution dates, the authorities must once and for all cancel all plans to execute him, and grant him a fair retrial in accordance with the principles of juvenile justice and without recourse to death penalty.
Iran is one of the last few countries in the world that still executes juvenile offenders. In January 2016, Amnesty International published a report which found that despite piecemeal reforms introduced by the Iranian authorities in 2013 to deflect criticism of their appalling record on executions of juvenile offenders, they have continued to condemn dozens of young people to death for crimes committed when they were below 18, in violation of their international human rights obligations.
As of August 2017, Amnesty International had identified the names of at least 89 individuals on death row who were under the age of 18 when the crime was committed.
Excerpt from:
Iran: Man arrested at just 15 is hours away from execution - Amnesty International
- Iran's leader threatens 'even bigger blow' against US, Trump says he's in no rush to talk - Fox News - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- China was on the sidelines of the Iran-Israel war. Thats just where it wanted to be - CNN - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Luring in Israelis of all types, Iran casts about in hopes of snagging quality spies - The Times of Israel - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Iran faces August deadline to accept comprehensive nuclear deal or face renewed UN sanctions - Fox News - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Bedouin village teacher arrested for spying, passing intel to Iran - The Jerusalem Post - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Bedouin teacher, IDF soldier latest to be charged with spying for Iran - The Times of Israel - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- France, UK and Germany would restore UN sanctions on Iran next month without progress on a deal - AP News - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Iran, Israel, and Trump converge. Why Trump is not a peacemaker - The Times of Israel - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Our silence didnt protect him: daughter pleads for father on death row in Iran - The Guardian - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran could fuel a new wave of nuclear proliferation - The Conversation - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Trump rejected more Iran strikes after minimal damage to nuclear sites in first wave, new report says - The Independent - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- US strikes severely damaged one Iran nuclear site, two others could restart in months: Report - Middle East Eye - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Russia, Iran and China intensifying life-threatening operations in UK, police say - Yahoo - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- The Israeli Air Forces defining moment that brought Iran to Its knees - www.israelhayom.com - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Iran faces stiff sanctions if no deal by end of August, U.S. and allies agree - Axios - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- As Iran Deports a Million Afghans, Where Do We Even Go? - The New York Times - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Lessons Observed from the War Between Israel and Iran - War on the Rocks - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Europeans Threaten to Reimpose Tough U.N. Nuclear Sanctions on Iran - The New York Times - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- The scale of Afghans returning from Iran is overwhelming, says UN official - AP News - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Trump was reelected with help from podcasters like Joe Rogan. Is he losing their support over Epstein and Iran? - ABC News - Breaking News, Latest... - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Trump says Iran would like to talk but hes in no rush after striking nuclear sites - The Times of Israel - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Afghan Women and Girls Deported From Iran Fear Returning to Afghanistan - The New York Times - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- US, European allies to give Iran until end of August to reach nuclear deal report - The Times of Israel - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Iran Seeks Backing from China and Russia After U.S. Airstrikes - Newsweek - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- France, UK and Germany would restore UN sanctions on Iran next month without progress on a deal - ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Iran says it will respond to reimposition of UN sanctions - Reuters - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Eric Navarro on Newsmax: Hamas, Gaza, and Iran - Middle East Forum - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- The humiliating way Israel achieved air superiority in Iran during the 12-Day War - We Are The Mighty - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Video: Why So Many Afghans Have Been Forced Out of Iran - The New York Times - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Professor who called for Iran to strike US base removed, Georgetown says at House hearing - JNS.org - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Whats the legacy of the Iran nuclear deal and its collapse? - Al Jazeera - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Iran and the Logic of Limited Wars - Foreign Policy - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Israel's air superiority in Iran conflict can't be compared to either Russia or Ukraine - Middle East Eye - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Iran Insists on Preconditions before Resuming Nuclear Talks with US - kaohoon international - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Iran threatens Europe as France, Germany, and UK weigh snapback options - Long War Journal - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Iran into in FIBA Womens Asia Cup 2025 Division B semis - Tehran Times - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- EU sets deadline to reinstate sanctions on Iran over nuclear program - Ynetnews - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Iran and Israel Don't Understand Each Other's Narrative. The War Can Restart Soon - IranWire - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Netanyahu says hes confident hostage deal can be reached, Iran in deep trouble - The Times of Israel - July 14th, 2025 [July 14th, 2025]
- In US, Iran strikes afterglow buys Netanyahu time to carry on ineffective Gaza war - The Times of Israel - July 14th, 2025 [July 14th, 2025]
- Iran sees chance for nuclear deal with U.S. even after attacks - The Washington Post - July 14th, 2025 [July 14th, 2025]
- Israeli F-15 malfunctioned above Iran in war, just avoided emergency landing report - The Times of Israel - July 14th, 2025 [July 14th, 2025]
- Iran vows Israel will 'pay the price' for 'assassination' attempt on president - Ynetnews - July 14th, 2025 [July 14th, 2025]
- Putin urges Iran to take 'zero enrichment' nuclear deal with US, Axios reports - Reuters - July 14th, 2025 [July 14th, 2025]
- Open letter to Thomas Friedman: Calls for diplomacy with Iran have poor timing - opinion - The Jerusalem Post - July 14th, 2025 [July 14th, 2025]
- How the 12-day Israel-Iran war could rebuild the Middle East - The Hill - July 14th, 2025 [July 14th, 2025]
- Putin said to tell Trump, Iran that he backs deal barring Tehran from enriching uranium - The Times of Israel - July 14th, 2025 [July 14th, 2025]
- Iran Says Its Considering US Offer to Restart Nuclear Talks - Bloomberg - July 14th, 2025 [July 14th, 2025]
- What will it take to end Iran's nuke program? An army. - The Japan Times - July 14th, 2025 [July 14th, 2025]
- Russia Slams Report It Urged Iran To Agree To Zero enrichment As 'defamation' - i24NEWS - July 14th, 2025 [July 14th, 2025]
- Iran: Israel Will Pay the Price for Allegedly Trying to Kill Pezeshkian - Algemeiner.com - July 14th, 2025 [July 14th, 2025]
- The cost of assumptions: Iran, Oct. 7 and the power of a conceptzia - JNS.org - July 14th, 2025 [July 14th, 2025]
- Tehran dreams of a country like Israel, and Tel Aviv fears becoming Iran - The Jerusalem Post - July 14th, 2025 [July 14th, 2025]
- FM Araqchi says Iran to work with IAEA, but inspections may be risky - Reuters - July 12th, 2025 [July 12th, 2025]
- Opinion | Whats Trumps Next Move on Iran? - The Wall Street Journal - July 12th, 2025 [July 12th, 2025]
- Rep. Omar on Minnesota shootings, Iran and So Called 'Big, Beautiful Bill' - House.gov - July 12th, 2025 [July 12th, 2025]
- Why is it easier to defeat a big power like Iran than the Palestinians? - JNS.org - July 12th, 2025 [July 12th, 2025]
- Satellite images show damage at the US base Iran attacked with ballistic missiles one of which hit it - Business Insider - July 12th, 2025 [July 12th, 2025]
- Pentagon confirms Iran's attack on Qatar air base hit dome used for US communications - Australian Broadcasting Corporation - July 12th, 2025 [July 12th, 2025]
- GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrators Results From Iran Strike Will Inform Its Future: Defense Officials - The War Zone - July 12th, 2025 [July 12th, 2025]
- Iran threat to UK is significant and rising, lawmakers say - Reuters - July 12th, 2025 [July 12th, 2025]
- Emerging from the Israel-Iran war - Al Jazeera - July 12th, 2025 [July 12th, 2025]
- Mass arrests and executions: Kurds in Iran bear the brunt of war with Israel - Ynetnews - July 12th, 2025 [July 12th, 2025]
- Iran confirms it arrested 16-year-old French-German biker last month - The Times of Israel - July 12th, 2025 [July 12th, 2025]
- The war lasted 12 days. The environmental impact on Iran may last decades - Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists - July 12th, 2025 [July 12th, 2025]
- Iran poses significant threat to United Kingdom, British lawmakers say in new report - The Times of Israel - July 12th, 2025 [July 12th, 2025]
- A weakened Iran and Hezbollah gives Lebanon an opening to chart path away from the regions conflicts will it be enough? - The Conversation - July 12th, 2025 [July 12th, 2025]
- Trump brushes off Iran's assassination threat with a don't care attitude - Hindustan Times - Hindustan Times - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- Son of couple held in Iran: 'They aren't spies, they're Mum and Dad' - BBC - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- China likely to strengthen backing for Iran as it looks to secure interests - South China Morning Post - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- How Turkey Views the Iran-Israel Confrontation - The Washington Institute - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- How the West Can Ensure Iran Never Gets the Bomb - The Atlantic - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- Who Will Become the Next Supreme Leader of Iran? - NPR - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- Israel Won the War It Fought. But Iran Emerged Victorious in the One That Mattered - Haaretz - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- Russia vows to refill Iran's uranium stocks, as Netanyahu warns that enriched supply was unscathed during the war - New York Post - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- Opinion | The Fallout From the Iran Strikes - WSJ - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- Pakistans ability to thread the needle in relations with the US and Iran tested by the Israel-Iran war - Middle East Institute - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- How Israel tracked down and assassinated scientists involved in Iran's nuclear program - Le Monde.fr - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- The Limits of Russias Friendship: How Moscow Sees the Iran Crisis - CSIS | Center for Strategic and International Studies - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- After US strikes, Iran is seeking closer ties to Europes pariah states - The Hill - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]