Death Sentence Postponed

Further details: MDE 13/086/2009

Here is extracted information from that document:
In Iran, Mohammad Reza Haddadi was sentenced to death in 2004 for a murder committed when he was 15. He confessed to the murder, but later retracted the confession. He said that he was innocent, but had claimed responsibility for the killing because his two co-defendants had offered to give his family money if he did so.

The execution of juvenile offenders is prohibited under international law, including Article 6(5) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), to which Iran is a state party, and so has undertaken not to execute anyone for crimes committed when they were under 18.

Please write to:

• Ayatollah Sayed ‘Ali Khamenei; The Office of the Supreme Leader; Islamic Republic Street – End of Shahid Keshvar Doust Street; Tehran; Islamic Republic of Iran. Email: info_leader@leader.ir, or via website: http://www.leader.ir/langs/en/index.php?p=letter (English)
• Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi; c/o Director, Judiciary Public Relations and Information Office; Ardeshir Sadiq; Judiciary Public Relations and Information Office;
  No. 57, Pasteur St.; corner of Khosh Zaban Avenue; Tehran; Iran. Email: info@dadiran.ir
  

Send copies to:

• Judiciary spokesperson Alireza Jamshidi; Howzeh Riyasat-e Qoveh Qazaiyeh / Office of the Head of the Judiciary; Pasteur St, Vali Asr Ave., south of Serah-e Jomhuri; Tehran 1316814737' Iran; Email: info@a-jamshidi.ir
• His Excellency Mr Mahmoud MOVAHHEDI, Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran, PO Box 705 , Mawson ACT 2607, Fax : (02) 6290 2825, Email: ambassador@iranembassy.org.au, (Salutation: Your Excellency)

My letter is below:

Ole Koksvik
Philosophy, RSSS
The Australian National University
Canberra ACT 2600
AUSTRALIA


Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi
c/o Director, Judiciary Public Relations and Information Office
Ardeshir Sadiq
Judiciary Public Relations and Information Office
No. 57, Pasteur St., corner of Khosh Zaban Avenue
Tehran
Iran

Your Excellency,

My name is Ole Koksvik. I am a Norwegian citizen, an Australian Permanent Resident, a PhD Candidate at the Australian National University.

I write to recognise and welcome the postponement of Mohammad Reza Haddadi's execution. I urge you to now commute this death sentence without delay.

I respectfully remind you that Iran is a state party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), which prohibit the use of the death penalty against people convicted of crimes committed when they were under 18.

Thank you for taking the time to read my concerns.

Yours sincerely,

Ole Koksvik