IRAN: IMMINENT HANGING OF BOY WHO COMMITTED A CRIME WHEN 15

the death sentence for a boy in Iran who had committed a crime when he was only 15 has shocked human rights organizations and activists. Etemad-Meli state-run daily reported that Behnam Zare’ was due to be hanged in Adel-Abad Prison in Shiraz, south of Iran, on August 22, but it was delayed for 15 days upon an appeal by his parents. Amnesty International made the following appeal to save his life: Behnam Zare’ was convicted of a murder committed when he was 15 years old, and is now at risk of imminent execution, though Iran is a state party to international treaties including the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) which expressly prohibits the execution of child offenders. Behnam Zare’ has been detained in Adelabad prison, in the south-western city of Shiraz, since his arrest. His death sentence could be carried out at any time. The murder reportedly took place on 21 April 2005, when Behnam Zare’ swung a knife during an argument with a man named Mehrdad, wounding him in the neck. Mehrdad later died in hospital. Behnam Zare’ was reportedly not aware that he had been sentenced to death until a recent visit from his lawyer. Around 11 August, his family were reportedly asked to seek a pardon from the victim’s family, who have so far refused to grant one.