Signature Collection to Mark World Day Against Death Penalty
10 October, 2013
On the occassion of the World Day Against Death Penalty, Amnesty International Nepal organised a signature collection campaign to repeal the death penalty sentence of four Iranian nationals.
In its petition, AI has urged Iranian authorities not to execute Ghazi Abbasi, Abdul-Reza Amir-Khanafereh, Abdul-Amir Mojaddami and Jasim Moghaddam Payam and order re-trials for all of the men in proceedings which comply with international fair trial standards and without recourse to the death penalty, and to commute all death sentences in Iran.
Likewise, AI Nepal urged authorities to effectively investigate the allegations that the men were tortured and otherwise ill-treated and disregard as evidence in court any “confessions” that may have been obtained under torture and ensure the men are protected from torture and other ill-treatment; are granted all necessary medical treatment; and are allowed immediate and regular contact with their lawyers and families.
Ghazi Abbasi, along with three other men, Abdul-Reza Amir-Khanafereh, Abdul-Amir Mojaddami, and Jasim Moghaddam Payam were sentenced to death on 15 August 2012 by Branch One of the Revolutionary Court of Ahvaz on charges related to a series of shootings that allegedly led to the deaths of a police officer and a soldier. The decision was upheld on 13 February 2013 by Branch 32 of the Supreme Court which could be implemented at any time.
All four men have denied any involvement in the shootings, stating that their “confessions” were obtained under torture and other ill-treatment which they reportedly recanted in court. However their claims of torture have not been investigated either by the Revolutionary Court of Ahvaz or the Supreme Court.
More than 500 signatures were collected at the programme.