Iranian Juvenile Offender, Sentenced To Death, Hopes To Save Her Life

The lawyer of Delara Darabi, a 23-year-old Iranian woman in prison and facing execution for murder, told RFE/RL's Radio Farda that she is still hoping the family of the victim will intervene and save her life.

Darabi was charged with committing the murder when she was 17 years old. She originally confessed to the crime but later retracted it.

Darabi's lawyer, Abdolsamad Khoramshahi, said Darabi’s sentence was finalized since several months ago.

He said human rights activists and some artists have been campaiging on her behalf.

Darabi is a painter and poet. An exhibition of her paintings was held in Tehran in 2006.

Iran is one of the only countries in the world that executes juvenile offenders.

The United Nations and human rights organizations have called on Iran to stop the practice.

(by Golnaz Esfandiari)