In Iran, between January 1 and October 8, 2013 more than 402 individuals were executed. Iran carries out more executions per capita annually than any other country in the world.
This statistic alone is not the most shocking thing. The manner, and reasons given are tantamount to murder for no reason.
Take the case of Shirkoo Moarefi, a 33-year-old Kurdish political and civil activist from Baneh, who was arrested while attempting to return to Iran from Iraqi Kurdistan in 2008. He was sentenced to death on the charge of “moharebeh” (enmity with God), “membership in Komalah Party,” and “acting against national security.”
Who decides that you are an enemy of God, and when is membership to a political party other than the one in power a crime punishable by death?
Is this making you feel uneasy yet? It gets worse. He was executed alone, neither his family nor his lawyers were even told of his death.
According to the law, the authorities have to serve the lawyers with a notice about an impending execution, and the prisoner’s family must also be served with a notice.
Ahmad Saeed Sheikhi, one of the lawyers representing Shirkoo Moarefi heard via a news website that his client had been executed. They broke the law when they executed Shirkoo!
Can you imagine the complete shock and horror of finding out that your husband, your father or your brother had been executed without giving you a chance to say goodbye?
Can you imagine reading about it in the news?
Well this is the reality for hundreds of families in Iran.
The Iranian authorities should impose an immediate moratorium on executions in Iran given the alarming rise in the use of the death penalty in recent months.
Demand that the judicial authorities explain the reasons for executing Shirkoo Moarefi without notifying anyone, and demand an investigation into the other 402 executions.
