Iran: Call to spare lives of four child offenders facing execution

Amnesty International and over 20 international and regional human rights organisations have called on the Iranian authorities to spare the lives of four child offenders facing execution in the country. The joint appeal, issued from Geneva, also called on Iran to stop imposing death sentences on child offenders (those aged below 18 at the time of their alleged crime), a penalty that flouts an absolute international prohibition on the death penalty in such cases. Two of those facing execution are Behnoud Shojaee and Mohammad Feda'i, due to be executed on Friday 11 July. Both were originally set to be executed on 11 June, but received last-minute, month-long reprieves to give them more time to seek pardons from the families of their victims. At least two other child offenders - Salah Taseb and Sa'eed Jazee - are also at risk of... [read full story]