This action underscores the country’s continued defiance of international human rights standards, particularly in light of the ongoing nationwide uprising sparked by the death of a young woman at the hands of the “morality police.”
Iranian law, grounded in a fundamentalist interpretation of Sharia, holds boys legally accountable from the age of 15. This contradicts international law, which defines a minor as anyone under 18 and strictly prohibits their execution. Despite this, Iranian officials, including the nation’s human rights monitor, have consistently dismissed relevant international agreements, such as the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, in favor of domestic laws influenced by cultural and religious traditions.
Typically, Iranian authorities postpone the execution of minors until they reach adulthood to mitigate international backlash. However, Azari’s case marks a deviation from this practice, with state media allegedly misreporting his age to deflect criticism.
This concern is further amplified by the execution of 21-year-old Milad Zohrevand in Hamedan on November 23, linked to last year’s uprising. The regime’s approach to publicizing executions has become more calculated, often conducting them in secrecy. Zohrevand’s execution, confirmed by human rights groups and regime insiders, was carried out without due process, and his body was denied to his family for a proper funeral. In an attempt to suppress potential protests, his body was buried in Hamedan rather than his hometown, Malayer, with security measures taken to prevent its relocation.
Kurdish political prisoner Ayoub Karimi’s execution on November 28 highlights the disproportionate targeting of ethnic minorities, particularly Kurds and Baluchs, who have been prominent in the 2022 uprising.
These recent actions by the Iranian regime demonstrate a calculated escalation in repressive measures, leading to a spike in human rights violations. The international community’s muted response emboldens the regime, raising concerns about a potential repeat of past atrocities and severe consequences, including mass migration.
The global leadership’s passive stance on these issues, treating them more as diplomatic tools rather than pressing moral imperatives, risks allowing these grave human rights abuses to continue unchecked.
In #Iran, the word prison is synonymous with torture & execution. The execution of juvenile offenders is another atrocity the mullahs regime continues to commit, for which reason Amnesty International has criticized it as “executioner of children”https://t.co/7BGBjXltES pic.twitter.com/KExw9rJX4w
— Maryam Rajavi (@Maryam_Rajavi) August 28, 2021
MEK Iran (follow us on Twitter and Facebook), Maryam Rajavi’s on her site, Twitter & Facebook, NCRI (Twitter & Facebook), and People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran – MEK IRAN – YouTu
