To: UN, UNICEF, Amnesty International and any organization who cares about human rights defenders in Iran.
From: Children First Now (International Campaign for Children’s Rights)
Date: 2022.12.05
We demand international bodies, among them UN, Amnesty and UNICEF, take urgent action against the Iranian regime to protect our children from Execution
Dear Sirs and Madams
We, Children First Now; International Campaign for Children’s Rights write to you in respect for your responsibility to protect humanity in the world. We are in great pain and are very concerned about the execution of protesters, in particular children in Iran by the brutal Islamic regime.
In the aftermath of the tragic death of Mahsa Jina Amini and since the beginning of people’s peaceful protests and demonstrations, Iranian government has responded with more violence and threatened protestors. Hundreds of protesters have been killed and more than 15000 has been arrested. At least 21 persons in the context of the protests face the death penalty and so far, six have already been sentenced to death.
On Wednesday, November 30th, 15 protestors were unlawfully put on trial in Alborz Revolutionary Court with the charge of “Moharebeh” and “Corruption on Earth” under the pretext of killing a Basiji member.
At least three juveniles are among the 15 individuals facing charges that could carry the death penalty in Iran’s “Islamic Revolutionary Court” system, which has a documented history of denying defendants the right to a lawyer of their choosing and forced them to instead use state-approved lawyers.
At the same time, in Zahedan, two juveniles, 15-and 16-year-old (Ali and Mohammad Rakhshani) brothers face similar false charges with death sentence as consequence.
Elsewhere in Mashhad, Khorasan Razavi Province, a 17-year-old could also be charged with death.
During the protest until now, the Islamic government forces have brutally killed 68 children with firearms, batons and throwing from a height. They have injured hundreds of children and blinded dozens of children with bullets. Hundreds of students have been kidnapped and held hostage in prisons in the worst conditions.
We demand that all governments, UN bodies, organizations and human right defenders that care about children’s rights and support the struggle of the Iranian people fighting for their basic human rights, take urgent actions to protect the children and protesters in Iran. Governments worldwide, as well as UN bodies, should clearly warn Islamic Republic officials that any death sentences imposed on protesters will result in severe and sustained international consequences.
Sincerely
Children First Now
International Campaign for Children’s Rights