Iran to execute child offender

Human Rights Watch has called on the head of Iran’s judiciary, Ayatollah Shahrudi, to order a stay of execution for Mohammad Reza Haddadi.

Haddadi has been sentenced to death as punishment for a crime he allegedly committed at the age of fifteen. There are claims that his co-defendants pressured and bribed him to confess.

“Executing someone for a crime committed as a child is always wrong, but the flawed trial in this case compounds the injustice,” said Clarisa Bencomo, Middle East children’s rights researcher for Human Rights Watch. “The head of Iran’s judiciary should halt the execution and order a full investigation into the case.”

The Islamic Republic is one of just four countries that have executed those who were children at the time of their offence in the past three years.

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