IRANIAN ACTIVISTS FIGHT CHILD EXECUTIONS

Iranian rights groups and lawyers stepped up a campaign against the execution of juvenile offenders hoping to save about 120 people convicted as minors who are now on death row, a lawyer behind the push said. Attorney Mohammad Mostafaei said five of these 120 face imminent execution. Mostafaei said the execution of juvenile offenders is a "blatant violation of international law" and a "flagrant breach of Iran's international obligations and commitments." Mostafaei told The Associated Press that the he and dozens of other lawyers and activists wrote to Iran's judiciary chief Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi demanding that executions of juveniles be abolished. There has been no response so far from authorities. The activists have also demanded meetings with Iranian officials and reached out to media to make their voice heard, Mostafaei said. Mostafaei said that at least six minors have been executed in 2008 and that 26 minors have been put to death in Iran since January 2005.