IRAN MUST IMMEDIATELY ABOLISH CHILD EXECUTION – IRANIAN HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST

despite the UN convention on human rights, Iran continues to execute children under 18. “Iran must immediately abolish child execution,” Mina Ahadi, an Iranian human rights activist, said. The Amnesty International human rights protection organization censured the death penalty announced against Makvan Moloudzadeh, a 20 year old accused of rape allegedly committed when he was 13. The organization demanded the release of the boy. Moloudzadeh is charged with the rape of several boys committed seven years ago. The organization is against execution and repeatedly appealed to international human rights protection organizations, particularly due to the release of Moloudzadeh, Ahadi said in an interview by telephone to Trend news agency on 21 November. Three children have been executed so far in 2007. At present, about 77 children have been sentenced to the death penalty in Iran. Ahadi said that the number of children executed exceeds 250.