[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----worldwide

[Rick Halperin]

Feb. 23


IRAN:

Both the White House and the U.S. State Department issued statements Thursday, 
Feb. 23 demanding the immediate release of Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani, who has 
been imprisoned in Iran since Oct. 2009.

Nadarkhani's fate took a decisive turn for the worst on Feb. 21, when the 
American Center for Law and Justice announced that Iranian courts may have 
issued an execution order for Nadarkhani, who is currently imprisoned on 
charges of apostasy and attempting to evangelize Muslims.

On Feb. 22, Present Truth Ministries issued an emailed press release stating 
that Iranian courts did in fact issue the death order.

Today, the White House and the U.S. State Department offer support to 
Nadarkhani's plight.

According to Jordan Sekulow, executive director of the American Center for Law 
and Justice, the statements released by the White House and the State 
Department confirm the belief that a death warrant for Nadarkhani has in fact 
been issued.

"The United States stands in solidarity with Pastor Nadarkhani, his family, and 
all those who seek to practice their religion without fear of persecution-a 
fundamental and universal human right," the White House statement read.

"The trial and sentencing process for Pastor Nadarkhani demonstrates the 
Iranian government's total disregard for religious freedom, and further 
demonstrates Iran's continuing violation of the universal rights of its 
citizens," it added.

The U.S. State Department also re-iterated its call for Nadarkhani's release, 
saying it was "deeply concerned" about the reports indicating a death sentence 
had been issued for Nadarkhani.

"Such government persecution for simply following one's faith is common in 
Iran, where followers of many religious traditions face harsh treatment and 
severe violations of their religious freedom," the press release read.

"We stand with religious and political leaders from around the world in 
condemning Youcef Nadarkhani's conviction and call for his immediate release," 
it added.

Jordan Sekulow of the ACLJ applauded the new effort to focus attention on 
Nadarkhani.

"We greatly appreciate the White House's and State Department's efforts on 
behalf of Pastor Youcef and join in urging other nations of the world to 
intervene with the Iranian regime on his behalf," Sekulow wrote on the ACLJ 
website on Thursday afternoon.

"It is absolutely critical that we continue to place international pressure on 
Iran for Pastor Youcef's immediate and unconditional release," he added.

Nadarkhani's case has received a large amount of international attention since 
it began in 2009. Previously, the U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, the 
Europe Union, 89 members of Congress, France, Great Britain and Mexico have all 
openly condemned Nadarkhani's imprisonment.

Nadarkhani was originally arrested for protesting in Oct. 2009. His charges 
were later changed to apostasy and attempting to evangelize Muslims. Although 
he potentially faced the death sentence, Nadarkhani repeatedly refused to 
recant his Christian faith.

Currently, Nadarkhani's wife, Fatema Pasindedih, and his two sons, Daniel, age 
9, and Yoel, age 7, await further news on the fate of their husband and father.

(source: Christian Post)

************

White House condemns death sentence of Iranian pastor


The White House on Thursday condemned the Iranian authorities’ reaffirmation of 
the death sentence for an Iranian pastor, APA reports quoting Xinhua.

"The United States condemns in the strongest possible terms reports that 
Iranian authorities’ reaffirmed a death sentence for Iranian Pastor Youcef 
Nadarkhani for the sole reason of his refusal to recant his Christian faith," 
said White House press secretary Jay Carney in a statement.

Describing the action as Iran’s breach of "international obligations, its own 
constitution, and stated religious values," Carney voiced the U.S. support for 
Nadarkhani and his family.

He criticized the Iranian authorities for disregarding religious freedom and 
violating rights of its citizen, calling on Tehran to immediately lift the 
sentence and release Nadarkhani.

Nadarkhani, 32, converted from Islam to Christianity when he was 19. In 2010, 
he was convicted of apostasy and remains in prison.

(source: APA)



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URGENT ACTION APPEAL
- From Amnesty International USA

----------------------------------
For a print-friendly version of this Urgent Action (PDF):
http://www.amnestyusa.org/actioncenter/actions/uaa30711.pdf

Further information on UA 307/11 (19 October 2011)
Issue date: 23 February 2012
Country: Iran

Note: Please write on behalf of these persons even though you may not have 
received the original UA
when issued on October 19, 2011. Thanks!

EXECUTION FEARS GROW FOR IRANIAN KURDS
Two members of Iran's Kurdish minority, Zaniar Moradi and Loghman Moradi, could 
be executed at any
time. Their death sentences have been sent to the Office for the Implementation 
of Sentences, a body
within the Judiciary, which is the final step before being called for 
execution.

Zaniar (or Zanyar) Moradi and Loghman (or Loqman) Moradi were sentenced to 
public hanging on 22
December 2010 by Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court after a trial 
reportedly lasting 20
minutes. They were convicted of "enmity against God" (moharebeh) and 
"corruption on earth" for
allegedly murdering the son of a senior cleric in Marivan, Kordestan province, 
north-eastern Iran,
on 4 July 2009. They were also convicted of participating in armed activities 
with Komala, a Kurdish
opposition group. Their sentences were upheld by the Supreme Court and have 
reportedly been sent to
the enforcement office of the Judiciary.

Zaniar Moradi and Loghman Moradi were arrested respectively on 1 August 2009 
and 17 October 2009 in
Marivan. They were held without charge by the Ministry of Intelligence for the 
first nine months of
their detention during which they were moved several times between detention 
facilities. Around the
beginning of December 2010 they were transferred to Raja'i Shahr Prison 
northwest of Tehran. The two
men then wrote a letter stating that during their interrogation by the Ministry 
of Intelligence they
were forced to "confess" to the allegations of murder after being tortured and 
threatened with rape.
Amnesty International has so far been unable to confirm reports that Zaniar 
Moradi was 17 at the
time of his arrest.

Please write immediately in Persian, English or your own language:
- Urging the Iranian authorities not to carry out the executions of Loghman 
Moradi and Zaniar
Moradi;
- Calling on them to commute the death sentences of Loghman Moradi and Zaniar 
Moradi and anyone else
on death row, including other Kurdish political prisoners;
- Calling on them to ensure that Loghman Moradi and Zaniar Moradi are protected 
from torture or
other ill-treatment, and are granted immediate and regular access to their 
families, their lawyers
and adequate medical care;
- Expressing concern that neither Loghman Moradi nor Zaniar Moradi had a fair 
trial, and urging the
Iranian authorities to investigate the allegations that they were tortured and 
to bring to justice
anyone found responsible for abuses and to disregard as evidence in courts 
"confessions" which may
have been coerced.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 5 APRIL 2012 TO:
Leader of the Islamic Republic
Ayatollah Sayed 'Ali Khamenei
The Office of the Supreme Leader
Islamic Republic Street – End of Shahid Keshvar Doust Street
Tehran
Islamic REPUBLIC OF IRAN
Email: info_leader at leader.ir
Twitter: "Call on #Iran leader @khamenei_ir to halt the execution of Loghman 
Moradi and Zaniar
Moradi"
Salutation: Your Excellency

Head of the Judiciary
Ayatollah Sadegh Larijani
[care of] Public relations Office
Number 4, 2 Azizi Street
Vali Asr Ave., above Pasteur Street intersection
Tehran
ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN
Email: bia.judi at yahoo.com (Subject line: FAO Ayatollah Sadegh Larijani) or
larijani at dadgostary-tehran.ir
Salutation: Your Excellency

And copies to:
Secretary General, High Council for Human Rights
Mohammad Javad Larijani
High Council for Human Rights
[Care of] Office of the Head of the Judiciary
Pasteur St., Vali Asr Ave. south of Serah-e Jomhouri, Tehran 1316814737
ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN
Email: info at humanrights-iran.ir (subject line: FAO Mohammad Javad Larijani)

**Iran does not presently have an embassy in the United States. Instead, please 
send copies to:
Iranian Interests Section
c/o Embassy of Pakistan
2209 Wisconsin Ave NW
Washington DC 20007
Tel: 202 965 4990
Fax: 1 202 965 1073
Email: requests at daftar.org

Please check with AIUSA Urgent Action Office if sending appeals after the above 
date.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Loghman Moradi and Zaniar Moradi's letter from prison also stated that during 
interrogations by the
Ministry of Intelligence, Zaniar Moradi was repeatedly asked about his father, 
Eghbal Moradi, a
member of the Komala Party of Kurdistan - a banned Iranian Kurdish opposition 
group - who lives in
northern Iraq. The letter further describes that Zaniar Moradi was tied to a 
bed, lashed and
subsequently threatened with rape prior to his "confession".

Kurds, who are one of Iran's many minorities, live mainly in the west and 
north-west of the country,
in the province of Kordestan and neighboring provinces bordering Kurdish areas 
of Turkey and Iraq.
They experience discrimination in the enjoyment of their religious, economic 
and cultural rights
(see: Iran: Human rights abuses against the Kurdish minority, (Index: MDE 
13/088/2008, 30 July 2008
available at: http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/MDE13/088/2008/en). For 
many years, Kurdish
organizations such as the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran (KDPI) and the 
Marxist group Komala
conducted armed struggle against the Islamic Republic of Iran, although neither 
currently does so.
The Party For Free Life of Kurdistan (PJAK), was formed in 2004, and carried 
out armed attacks
against Iranian security forces, but declared a unilateral ceasefire in 2009, 
although it still
engages in armed clashes with security forces in what it terms "self-defense". 
In 2011, the Iranian
and Turkish governments shelled border areas where armed Kurdistan Workers' 
Party (PKK) and PJAK
bases were thought to be located (see Amnesty International, Turkey/Iraq: 
Investigation needed into
killing of civilians in the Kurdistan region of Iraq, 26 August 2011

Amnesty International condemns without reservation attacks on civilians, which 
includes judges,
clerics, and locally or nationally-elected officials, as attacking civilians 
violates fundamental
principles of international humanitarian law. These principles prohibit 
absolutely attacks on
civilians as well as indiscriminate and disproportionate attacks. Such attacks 
cannot be justified
under any circumstances.

At least 17 other Kurdish men are believed to be on death row in connection 
with their alleged
membership of and activities for proscribed Kurdish organizations. Some have 
had initial prison
sentences increased to death sentences. At least 10 Kurds have reportedly been 
executed for
political offences in recent years.

Name(s): Loghman Moradi (m), Zaniar Moradi (m)
Issue(s): Imminent execution, Torture/ill-treatment, and Legal concern
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Amnesty International is a worldwide grassroots movement that promotes and 
defends human rights.

This Urgent Action may be reposted if kept intact, including contact 
information and stop action
date (if applicable). Thank you for your help with this appeal.

Urgent Action Network
Amnesty International USA
600 Pennsylvania Ave SE 5th fl
Washington DC 20003
Email: uan at aiusa.org
http://www.amnestyusa.org/uan
Phone: 202.509.8193
Fax: 202.675.8566
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END OF URGENT ACTION APPEAL
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