Amnesty International Warns of Imminent Executions in Iran on World Day Against the Death Penalty

As the international community marks the World Day Against the Death Penalty on 10 October, Amnesty International has highlighted two cases of people facing execution in Iran, including Mohammad-Reza Ali-Zamani and Akram Mahdavi, both of whom are at risk of imminent execution. Amnesty International is urging the Iranian authorities to rescind the death sentence imposed on Zamani and to halt all scheduled executions, citing concerns over the fairness and transparency of the country's justice system.

Key Takeaways:

• Amnesty International has condemned Iran's "show trials" as a "mockery of justice" and fears that Zamani's death sentence will pave the way for more death sentences against those being tried on similar offenses.
• At least 13 other people are also currently at risk of being executed in Iran, including seven male members of Iran's Ahwazi Arab minority who have been convicted of "acting against national security" and killing an anti-Sunni Shi'a cleric.
• The Iranian authorities have scheduled the executions of Akram Mahdavi, a woman sentenced to death in 2003 for murdering her 74-year-old husband, and Ali Saedi, Walid Naisi, and four other men who were sentenced to death in September 2009 for alleged crimes against national security.
• Amnesty International is calling on the Iranian authorities to immediately halt all scheduled executions and to commute all death sentences.
• The organization continues to urge the Iranian authorities to impose an immediate and comprehensive moratorium on executions, as a first step towards ending the use of this punishment.

Statistics:

• Over 100 people are currently standing trial before a Tehran Revolutionary Court for fomenting protests against the disputed official result of Iran's 12 June presidential election.
• At least 13 people are at risk of imminent execution in Iran.
• Seven male members of Iran's Ahwazi Arab minority have been convicted of "acting against national security" and killing an anti-Sunni Shi'a cleric.
• Iran has executed at least 150 people in the past year, mostly for crimes such as murder and narcotics trafficking.

Sources:

• Amnesty International (no date) - Excerpts from a press release on Iran's use of the death penalty
• Amnesty International (no date) - "Iran: 13 more facing execution in reprisal for protests"
• "Iran: Torture of Ahwazis" (no date) - Anonymous - Amnesty International website article
• Amnesty International website (no date) - Timeline of human rights abuses in Iran