Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO) and Together Against Death Penalty (ECPM) presented in Paris on April 13 the 15th annual report on death penalty in Iran which shows an alarming deterioration of the human rights situation in the country through the prism of the use of death penalty in Iran. The press conference took place at ECPM’s office with speeches by its CEO Raphael Chenuil Hazan and the CEO of Iran Human Rights, Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam in the presence of numerous journalists of the French and international media outlets.
“The death penalty is like a sword of Damocles for the entire Iranian people.”
Raphael Chenuil-Hazan
Or on Iran Human Rights’ YouTube page
Read the 15th annual report of IHR and ECPM
French version to come.
Iran, the evening of the hundred voices
On the same day, the evening of the hundred voices was held, organized by the Paris Bar Association (Ordre des Avocats de Paris), Tohether Against Death Penalty (ECPM), Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and the Collectif Azadi4Iran, all mobilized to relay the word of / amplify the voices of the voiceless Iranians and to support human rights defenders in Iran.
A multidisciplinary, moving evening, combining arts, pleadings, testimonies and interventions of rights defenders to denounce human rights violations and declare that the revolution continues in Iran. Participants were able to record their voices to show their solidarity with the Iranian people.
This evening was also an opportunity to inform and raise awareness about the use of the death penalty by Iran. Thus, after a general presentation by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Violations in the Islamic Republic of Iran, several speakers were able to insist on different points.
Samira Mokarami, sentenced to death at 15 years in Iran with her mother and younger sister, delivered a poignant testimony before an overwhelmed audience that rose to applaud and support the courage of the young woman. With affection, she recalled the memory of her fellow prisoner Reyhanneh Jabbari (executed in 2014), protagonist of the documentary Seven Winters in Tehran by Steffi Niederzoll.
Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, the CEO of Iran Human Rights presented the situation of death penalty in 2022 based on the report that was published in the morning. He also paid a specific tribute to the protesters executed in Iran stating that death penalty is the most effective tool considered by the Iranian authorities to spread terror.
Richard Sedillot, lawyer and spokesman for ECPM denounced the almost systematic denial of the right to defense of those who are convicted. “Everything we do to defend them here in France is of considerable importance.” He also recalled the importance of the support of lawyers in France and the particularities of the use of the death penalty against women as indicative of institutionalized violence against women in Iran.
At the same time, women lawyers at the Bar intervene to honor the women of Iran who live under all shades of anger taking up Zan Zendigi Azadi which means Women Life Freedom in Farsi.
