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Liz LynneLiberal Democrat MEP for the West Midlands 1999-2012 |
Iran's death penalty decision despicable say MEP
August 28, 2008 10:36 AM
Liz Lynne MEP has expressed her outrage at the Iranian Government's action in hanging a man for a crime he committed when he was just 15 years-old, violating Iran's commitments to the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child.
Mr Reza Hejazi was hung for his part in a murder involving a group of people in September 2004. He was tried in an adult court despite Iranian law stating he should be treated as a juvenile.
Even more worryingly, the execution took place just hours after Mr Hejazi's lawyer was told that the sentence had been halted, breaking Iranian law that says that a prisoners lawyer must be informed 48 hours before a death sentence is carried out.
The decision to execute Mr Hejazi contradicts the United Nations Convention to which Iran is a signatory. Under Article 6, the convention prohibits the use of the death penalty for minors and for those who may have committed crimes as minors that as an adult may carry a capital punishment sentence.
Speaking today, Ms Lynne, who is a member of the European Parliament's Human Rights Sub-Committee and a long time campaigner for children's rights said:
'Iran's decision to commit Reza Hajazi to death is one to be whole heartedly condemned. It is truly horrific that someone can be put to death for a crime that was committed so young.
"The Iranian Government has raised serious questions about its commitments to the UN Convention and ultimately about it's commitments to children themselves'.
"I stand with the European Council in urging Iran to put in place legislation to bring it in line with the Convention that it has voluntarily signed."
ENDS
Notes:
- The full text of the statement made by the European Council can be found at:
http://europa.eu/geninfo/whatsnew.htm
- More information can be found at:
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