Three nooses wait for three political prisoners in Iran. In a few hours Mohamad Zamani, Behnoud Shoujae and Safar Angooti will be called from their cells to be executed for minor crimes. This has started a big uproar within the Iranian community and social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook. Mohamad Zamani’s crime was according to Gooya news was for praising the shah’s regime. It is amazing how a country that claims to be democratic would execute someone for political beliefs, democracy is about expressing their own opinions on politics. Zamani is a middle aged man who also took part in the protests.

 

   Behnoud Shoujae was only 17 when convicted and givent he death penalty. His crime was stopping a fight his friend was in and one child pulled out a knife and Behnoud picked up a glass and stabbed him and fled the scene. He was not given legal representation throughout his trial and had to write request for re-examination himself. In the trial he has admitted that he did stike the other boy once, despite his claims he was given the death penalty. His only way out of this mess is to reach an agreement with the family of the victim. Mohammad Mostafaei, Benouds attorney has stated “After I brought up the fact the family of the victim had given up their right to retribution, the file was sent back to the issuing court. The judges from the 74th provincial criminal court rejected the appeal arguing the verbal retrieval of family’s right to retribution even when it is confirmed by the witness affidavit does not constitute a reasonable ground for appeal and the execution order shall remain in effect.” Safar Anghooti is on the same boat as Behnoud, he was only 17 when he got in a fight and murdered a boy, his execution was to be on May 7th but his lawyer was able to postpone it. Now the time has ran out, he as well as Behnoud face execution today.

 

   Three nooses wait for three necks in a few hours. Many have requested to hold protests in front of the notorious Evin prison. There has also been a leaked letter letter on the internet written by a government official asking the city council to not visit the families of the soon to become executed. Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, spokesperson of Iran Human rights stated: ” We hope UN, EU and the world community do whatever they can to stop these executions, which are clear violations of the international laws that Iran has artified”. He continued:”As long as death penalty for offences at under 18 years of age exists in the Iranian penal law, we will witness execution of minors in this country. United Nations must show that its conventions are more than just formalities and put serious pressure on the Iranian authorities in order to stop execution of minor offenders”. Its important to note all three cases have not been properly reviewed and many unanswered questions still remain. Irans youth is dying unfairly.