Another Child Offender Hanged In Iran
August 26, 2008
One day after the European Union condemned the August 19
execution of child offender Reza Hejazi for a murder he committed when he was 15, another child offender was hanged in the Islamic Republic.
Lawyer and human rights activist Mohammad Mostafai told RFE/RL's Radio Farda that his client, Behnam Zare, was executed this morning. In an audio file made available today to Radio Farda, Zare begs human rights activists for help. He says he regretted his act and did not want to die.
Mostafai says judicial authorities broke the rules by not informing him and Zare's family about the execution.
Iran is one of the few countries in the world that executes individuals for crimes committed when they were under 18 years old.
Mostafai says he is currently representing 23 other child offenders.
Rights groups estimate that there are more than 60 child offenders awaiting execution in Iran.