Stop further executions in Iran: Shahla Jahed to be executed!

URGENT ACTION

iranian footballer’s wife’s execution scheduled ADditional InformationShahla Jahed, who had contracted a temporary marriage with Nasser Mohammad-Khani, a former striker for the Iranian national football team and former manager of a team in Tehran, was accused of stabbing to death Laleh Saharkhizan, her husband’s permanent wife, on 9 October 2002. She “confessed” to the killing in pre-trial detention after 11 months in detention, but withdrew her “confession” in court, saying, “Everyone knows the conditions under which I confessed.” She was also sentenced to three years’ imprisonment, but has now spent over nine years in prison.  Nasser Mohammad-Khani, abroad at the time of the murder, was himself initially suspected of complicity in the murder and detained for some months, but was later released after Shahla Jahed “confessed” to the murder.Under Iranian law, men and women can marry either permanently or temporarily. In a temporary marriage, men and women can commit to be married for an agreed period of time, on payment of an agreed sum of money to the woman, after which the marriage is null and void. Men can have up to four permanent wives, and any number of temporary wives. Women can only be married to one man at a time.

Amnesty International has long expressed concern that torture and other ill-treatment are common in Iran, particularly during interrogation and before they have been charged, when defendants are routinely denied access to defence lawyers.  Such “confessions” are often used as the main evidence against defendants.

Amnesty International recognizes the rights and responsibilities of governments to bring to justice those suspected of criminal offences, but opposes the death penalty in all cases as the ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment, in violation Iran’s obligations under international law.

Amnesty International has been campaigning for Shahla Jahed’s death sentence to be overturned since 2005 (see Urgent Action UA 283/05 and updates).UA: 243/10 Index: MDE 13/105/2010 Issue Date: 23 November 2010