Behnam Zare’, who is now 18, has been detained in Adelabad prison, in the south-western city of Shiraz, since his arrest, Amnesty said. He is accused of murdering someone at the age of 15.
The order to carry out his execution has been sent to the prison where he is held, the group said, adding that the execution may take place before the end of the week.
Behnam Zare’ is one of at least 71 child offenders currently on death row in Iran. The country continues to execute child offenders – people under the age of 18 at the time of their offence – despite the practice being strictly prohibited under international law. The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child has twice urged Iran to stop executions of child offenders, yet since 1990 Iran has executed at least 24 such offenders, said a statement by Amnesty.
This is a sickening case. Executions are always dirty affairs, but when the intended victim is so young it is crueller still, said Amnesty International UK Director Kate Allen.
