In privacy or a public spectacle? The end result's the same

I normally find January long and never-ending. But this year, global events have kept us so busy here in the Amnesty press office that I cant believe it will be 1st February tomorrow.

First Pakistan, then Kenya. Today Iran is on our agenda.

According to news reports today, Irans judiciary chief has called for executions in Iran to take place in private, unless he suggests otherwise. This announcement coincides with the news today that five more people have been hanged in Iran. In the 31 days of January alone, 33 people have reportedly been executed in Iran this year.

 Whether conducted in public or private, either way, the death penalty should not be carried out.

Its a cruel and inhuman form of punishment and should be abolished. In December the UN supported a resolution to call for an immediate global freeze on executions.  Time for Iran and other executing states to listen to the rest of the world and Amnesty and get rid of this awful punishment.

At the moment Amnestys asking people to send appeals to authorities in Iran to halt the execution of a young man called Saeed Jazee.  He was sentenced to death when he was just 17 years old and hes one of 79 child offenders on death row in Iran. Click here  to find out more about Saeeds story and to find out what you can do to help his case.

Well thats all from us today.