The European Union wishes to convey its deep concern over reports of a public execution of two youths in Mashad on 19 July 2005 despite the fact that one of the youths, Mahmoud Asqary, was aged under 18 at both the time of the crime and the execution. The EU recalls its long-held position that capital punishment may not, in any circumstances, be imposed on persons below 18 years of age at the time of the commission of their crime. Such a punishment is in direct contravention of Iran’s obligations under the ICCPR and also the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child.
“The European Union wishes to convey its deep concern over reports of a public execution of two youths in Mashad on 19 July 2005 despite the fact that one of the youths, Mahmoud Asqary, was aged under 18 at both the time of the crime and the execution. The EU recalls its long-held position that capital punishment may not, in any circumstances, be imposed on persons below 18 years of age at the time of the commission of their crime. Such a punishment is in direct contravention of Iran’s obligations under the ICCPR and also the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child.
The EU calls on Iran to clarify its position urgently. In October 2004 the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran assured the EU that a moratorium was in place on all lashings and executions for crimes committed by those under the age of 18. The EU hopes that a law abolishing such punishments will be adopted soon, and implemented, and until that time, calls for the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to respect the moratorium.”
Norway associates itself with this statement.