The news of execution of a 23-year-old woman on October 12th was shocking particularly that it took place in Shiraz, Iran’s cultural capital, a short distance from Persepolis and the tomb of Cyrus the Great who announced the first charter in defense of human rights 25 centuries ago.
Fatemeh Salbehi had been sentenced to death in a hasty, unjust trial for murdering her husband at the age of 16, a charge that she never accepted. The punishment violated international humanitarian standards and was a breach of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Convention on Children’s Rights.
The destiny of this innocent young woman is but an example of the fate of countless girls in Iran, today. No one was allowed to seriously defend her. Nobody asked why this 16-year-old girl had to marry when she was supposed to sit in her classroom. No one asked what kind of violence she was subjected to physically and psychologically. And no one asked why she was sentenced to the maximum punishment, the death penalty, while she had not accepted the charge.
The killing of this young woman once again unveils the cruel image of the ruling mullahs who need to spill blood of Iran’s youths and adolescents to maintain their grips on power.
At the same time, western governments shamelessly keep silent and do not react to such news because of their financial deals and interests. When they do not stand up to the flagrant violations of human rights in Iran, the mullahs become emboldened and expand their threat to other parts of the world.
No comments:
Post a Comment