IRAN. AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL CONDEMNS IRAN'S EXECUTIONS

Amnesty International expressed its outrage over an "alarming rate" of executions in Iran, particularly the use of the death penalty against children.
The human rights organisation had recorded 28 executions so far in 2006, following at least 94 in 2005 - although it stated that "the true figure is likely to be much higher." The use of the death penalty was increasingly being used against political prisoners.
The Iranian regime had stated that seven of 45 people accused of bomb attacks in Ahwaz had been convicted of "enmity with God, corruption on earth and murder". Amnesty said the offences carried heavy penalties, including "execution, cross amputation [amputation of right hand and left foot], crucifixion for three days, or banishment."
Amnesty stated that it "recognizes the rights and responsibilities of governments to bring to justice those suspected of committing recognizably criminal offences, but the organization is unconditionally opposed to the use of the death penalty as the ultimate violation of the right to life. It therefore urges the Iranian authorities to impose an immediate moratorium on the use of the death penalty and to abide by its international obligations not to execute anyone for an offence committed when they were a child."