Iranian Woman to Die for Defending Herself from Rape: Sign on-line petition to save her life!

Date:   4/30/2006 8:47:07 PM ( 18 y ago)

Dear Curezoners:

I have just read and signed the online petition:

"Save Nazanin"

http://www.PetitionOnline.com/Nazanin/

Nazanin is an 18 year old Iranian woman, sentenced to death by hanging by the Iranian Courts.

Nazanin and her 16-year-old niece were about to be raped last year when the older girl stabbed two of their three attackers, killing one.

Nazanin reportedly told a criminal court that "I wanted to defend myself and my niece. I did not want to kill that boy. At the heat of the moment I did not know what to do because no one came to our help." But she was sentenced to death earlier this year for her crime. Her sentence is subject to higher court review.

Urgent action is needed to help save a young life whose only crime was an attempt to defend herself. Nazanin and many like her are caught between two undesirable options. On one hand, Iranian Penal Code severely limits the possibility of using ‘self-defense’ as a legitimate defence to aggression. On the other hand, if Nazanin had allowed the rape to take place, she could still be imprisoned, flogged or stoned for having sex outside of marriage unless four male witnesses to the actual rape would testify on her behalf.

Moreover, Iran is a signatory to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and is therefore under obligation NOT to impose the death penalty on those under the age of 18. Nevertheless, Amnesty International has recorded 18 executions of child offenders in Iran since 1990. In 2005 alone, at least eight executions of child offenders were recorded. Nazanin was 17 years old at the time of commission of the offense and therefore Iran is in breach.

I urge you to sign the petition to save Nazanin's life:

http://www.PetitionOnline.com/Nazanin/


Thank you for TAKING ACTION!

Liora Leah

 

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