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Interview with Nazanin Afshin-Jam,

President, Stop Child Executions (SCE),

by Nicolas-Emilien Rozeau.

and government makes projects ourselves and have necessaiy steps to put a stop
your association's received a small amount of to this practice. Nobel Peace
actions both political as donations from the general Laureate Shirin Ebadi has
well as humanitarian, public. SCE helps to act as a made child executions her
do you not fear for your liaison between families pet project this year with her
own life? seeking legal counsel and Centre for Human Rights
human rights lawyers; as Defenders. Over half a
I have received threats to my well as channeling inforina- dozen top Islamic scholars
life but working to combat tion from Iran to internatio- and jurispnidence have also
injustice in the world is a nal human rights groups like signed a joiiit statement cat-
sacrifice I am willing to Amnesty International and ling for an end to this 'unis-
make. If I did nothing and organizations like the lamic' practice. Presidential
chose to ignore issues, like United Nations. candidate Mehdi Karoubi
child executions that I feel has publicly stated that if
veiy strongly opposed to, I Do you not think that it elected he worild prit an end
You are president of the would be a part of the would be better to to death penalty for minors.
organization "Stop problem. I guess you could approach the problem
Child Executions", consider any subject p through international Your activeness and
which is fighting to abo- olitical but I feel that our diplomatic channels, willingness are second-
lish the death penalty campaign is not overtly poli- internal Iranian politics to-none, but what are
for minors in Iran. To tical and sticks within tlie and civil society rather the real means of pres-
have a better unders- confines of "human tights". than an external sure you have to stop
tanding of what is going Iran is state paity t organisational? these child executions?

on; could you explain to o the ICCPR (International
us what crimes these covenant on civil and politi- We are voicing what the vast SCE has initiated a petition
minors on death row in cal rights) and CRC majority of the population in with over 20,000 signatures,
prisons are accused of? (convention on the tights of Iran want: an end to child organized rallies, produced
the child) which clearly for- execution and an inter- documentai'ies, participated
in major human rights
Crimes and punishments bids the execution of those national law which would
vary for different offences. who have committed an prevent such executions. conferences, conducted
Girls above the age of 9, and offence before the age of 18. Just recently, 1500 active speeches in vai'ious parlia-
boys above the age of 15 are We are simply reminding lawyers and huinan rights ments worldwide and has
considered adrilts under and pressuring tlie Islamic defenders in Iran signed a been cited in major global
Islamic Shari'a law and the- Republic of Iran to abide by joint statement requesttng newspapers, magazines,
refore are held criminally their obligations. that tlie govenurient and the television and radio riews
responsible for tl'ieir actions council of guardians take the programs.
and tried the same as adults. Your campaign takes
Since the 1979 revolution, place in a sensitive and
when there was a redefini- complex geo-political

tion of Shari'a laws, we have environment, are you
reports on jriveniles, who independent of all
haye been executed for forms of political pres-
apostasy, homosexuality, sure and influence be it
drug trafficking, acts incom- internal or external,
patible with chastity, endan- governmental or non-
gering national security, governmental for this
murder and manslaughter. campaigning?
There are currently over 140
children on death row in We are an independent, non-
Iran. political, non profit organi-
zation run entirely by
Campaigning against vohmteers. Up rintil now, we
the Iranian President liave mostly funded all the
0 Khaled Nahiz/IBM
32 3 2009 Diva

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