Again and again, Iran is the focus of international criticism for its arbitrary justice and human rights violations. A UN expert criticized Tehran now for the execution of several young people.
The United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Iran, Javaid Rehman, commented before the United Nations (UN) Assembly. According to him, the death sentence was enforced last year alone against seven minors, and this year he counts two executions of juveniles.
The sentences were enforced, even though the Convention on Human Rights prohibits the death penalty for persons under the age of 18 years. Rehman also has "credible information" about the fact that at least 90 young people are currently on death row.
Rehman also expressed deep concern about the general use of the death penalty in the Islamic Republic, saying that "even after a fall of 507 in 2017, the execution rate remains one of the highest in the world". According to conservative estimates, at least 173 death sentences were executed in the current year.
Two 17-year-old executed
In May, two 17-year-olds were executed in Iran. The boys were accused of robbery and rape. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet sharply criticized the executions. Executing minors violates human rights and the UN Convention on Children's Rights, which Iran has signed.
Mehdi Sohrabifar and Amin Sedaghat, who were arrested at the age of fifteen, had reported abuse in police custody, according to the UN. They said that they had been forced to make false confessions. Neither their lawyers nor their parents were informed in advance of the April 25 execution in Shiraz in the south of the country.
