Norway condemns death sentences in Iran

Source: Norway's Ministry of Foreign Affairs

6 July, State Secretary Espen Barth Eide summoned the Iranian Ambassador, Seyed Hossein Rezvani, to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in connection with two death sentences in Iran.

Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani has been sentenced to death by stoning for infidelity, and Mohammad Reza Haddadi has been sentenced to death for an crime allegedly committed when he was a minor. The case of Majid Tavakkoli was also raised. Mr Tavakkoli has been imprisoned for his political activities as a student, and is serving his sentence in isolation.

Mr Barth Eide commented: “In my meeting with the Iranian Ambassador, I raised three specific cases, each of which are cause for grave concern. We view execution by stoning as an inhuman and barbaric form of punishment and we condemn it. The same applies to the use of the death penalty for crimes committed by minors. In addition, we take a very critical view of imprisonment for the expression of political views.

“Besides, these sentences are in violation of Iran’s obligations under its national law and under international conventions to which Iran is a party.”

In addition to these three cases, it was also emphasised that Norway opposes the death penalty in principle and in all circumstances, and that Iran has committed itself to following the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). Iran was also urged to discontinue stoning as a form of punishment.

Death Row Inmate Hadi Aravand Killed by Prison Guards in Sari

RAHANA – Sari Prison’s warden has claimed that Aravand’s death was the result of suicide, but the coroner ruled that the young man died after being suffocated to death.

Torture and bruise mark were visible on Aravand’s body, including a broken arm, wounds on his back and a 1cm deep slit around his neck ruling out any possibility of suicide. Cuts around Aravand’s wrists and ankles prove that he suffered an agonizing death, according to a family member who talked to a RAHANA reporter.

The relative added that Hadi Aravand was moved out of his cell at 5pm on April 30, and an hour later his wounded body was delivered to the Sari hospital.

The coroner has confirmed that, at the time of his death, Arvand’s arms were tied behind his back and his legs were tied together, ruling out the possibility that the death occurred as a result of suicide. The coroner’s report says that the young man died after he was suffocated with a plastic bag while his arms and his legs were tied.

According to the inmates, this is the 4th suspicious death in 7 months since Abedi was appointed as the prison’s new warden.

The 23-year-old Aravand was awaiting his execution which was scheduled to be carried out 3 months later. He was arrested on March 19 2008 after killing someone during a street fight. Aravand was buried in Soural near Sari on Sunday May 9.

Farsi text: RHANA

قتل یک زندانی توسط ماموران زندان ساری

رهانا: رییس زندان مدعی خودکشی وی با ملحفه است، اما پزشکی قانونی خفگی را علت مرگ می‌داند.

آثار و کبودی شکنجه در همه قسمت‌های بدن هادی اراوند دیده می‌شد؛ به طوری‌که یکی از دست‌ها شکسته بود و پشتش هم زخمی بود. دور گردن هم به عمق یک سانتیمتر بریده بود؛ که امکان خودکشی را از بین می‌برد. یکی از آشنایان وی با اعلام این مطالب به خبرنگار رهانا اضافه می‌کند که البته بریدگی مچ دست و پا بیانگر این است که چقدر در حال مرگ به وی فشار وارد شده است

وی در ادامه گفت: هادی روز جمعه ۱۰ اردیبهشت، حول و حوش ساعت ۵ از بندش به بیرون منتقل شد و ساعتی بعد جسد مجروح و زخمی‌اش در بیمارستان امام ساری بود.

طبق تائید پزشکی قانونی در هنگام مرگ پاها به صورت ضربدری و دست ها ازپشت بسته بودند و امکان هیچ گونه خودکشی وجود نداشت و در این حالت بست پلاستیکی را به گردنش انداختند و آن را کشیدند که باعث خفگی و در نهایت مرگ این زندانی شده است.

بنا به گفته زندانی‌ها از زمان ورود رئیس جدید زندان «عابدی» در ۷ ماه گذشته زندان ساری شاهد ۴ مورد مرگ مشکوک بوده است که نشان دهنده‌ی وضعیت بد زندان ساری است

هادی اراوند، ۲۳ ساله، از زندانی‌های محکوم به اعدام بوده است که سه ماه به اجرای حکم‌اش باقی مانده بود. وی در ۲۹ اسفند ۸۶ در نزاع خیابانی مرتکب قتل شده بود و روز یکشنبه هفته قبل در آرامگاه شهر سورک در چند کیلومتری ساری به خاک سپرده شد.

پایان پیام

Ashura Protester Gets Death Sentence

Source: RAHANA (Reporters and Human Rights Activists in Iran)

RAHANA Prisoners’ Rights Unit – Today, 9 people who had recently been tried for their roles in Ashura protests, received their sentences today. One person has been sentenced to death, while 8 others received prison sentences.
According to a report by INLA News agency, all 9 defendants were tried by the Revolutionary Court over the past two weeks and in two separate open court sessions with their lawyers present. They were tried on charges of Moharebeh and conspiracy against the regime.
On January 28th, 2010, Arash Rahmanipour and Mohammad Reza Alizamani were executed secretly and without the knowledge of their families or lawyers. Both men had been arrested before the June election but were tried and sentenced to death for their roles in post election events.