Stop the Execution of Delara Darabai
Delara Darabai is currently face imminent execution in Iran for a crime she committed when she was 17 years old and a juvenile under International Law. According to reports, Darabai was involved in a burglary with an older man, Amir Hossein. Hossein, 19, allegedly killed the house owner during the burglary. Darabai admitted the murder but later retracted her confession, claiming Hossein asked her to admit responsibility because, as a juvenile, she would not be sentenced to death. Darabai has since retracted her confession and maintains her innocence. She has also claimed she was under the influence of sedatives during the burglary. Since handing down her initial death sentence, the Supreme Court has found "deficiencies" in her case. However, she has since been sentenced to death a second time. Iran, is a state party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and so is obliged not to impose the sentence of death for crimes committed by persons below 18 years of age. Nonetheless, Iran executes more known child offenders than any other country. We, the undersigned, urge the Iranian authorities to uphold their obligations to international law by overturning the death penalty handed down to Delara Darabi and taking immediate steps to end the death penalty for child offenders.
Comment