Iran: Mr. Moarefi facing imminent execution

Defend International (DI)has been informed by reliable sources that Mr. Shirkoh Moarefi, a Kurdish political prisoner, is due to be executed on May 1, 2011.

DI reiterates its firm opposition to the death penalty in all cases and under all circumstances. DI urges Iran to stop the execution of Mr. Moarefi and all other detained political prisoners in Iran, and encourages the Iranian authorities to establish a moratorium on executions with a view to abolishing the death penalty.

Mr. Moarefi, aged 30, was held in October 2008 at Saqqez Prison in the Kurdistan Province of Iran. He has been sentenced to death, convicted of being a mohareb ("enemy of God") and for "endangering state security." In October 2009, he was scheduled to be executed; however the execution did not take place. At least 20 other Kurdish political prisoners are known to be on death row.

* Defend International condemns all executions wherever carried out and urges Iran to stop the execution of Mr. Moarefi and all other political prisoners, and encourages the Iranian authorities to review death penalty in light of International Human Rights Law.

* Defend International reiterates its firm opposition to the death penalty under all circumstances and highlights that the abolition of execution can contribute to the enhancement of human rights, human dignity, and fundamental freedoms.

* Defend International opposes the death penalty in all cases because it is the ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment and a violation of the right to life.

* For all these reasons, Defend International calls upon Iran to establish a moratorium on executions with a view to abolishing the death penalty.


To view DI s 2nd Urgent Action Urging Iran to Stop the Execution of 22 Political Activists click here:
http://www.defendinternational.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=309&Itemid=73

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