Press Statement
Department Spokesperson
The Department of State is appalled by the Iranian regime’s secret execution of two 17-year old males, Mehdi Sohrabifar and Amin Sedaghat, in Adelabad prison in Shiraz, as reported by Amnesty International. According to this report, Iran has resumed its execution of minors, while attempting to keep this inhumane practice hidden from the world. The report notes that Iran is also the top executioner of children in the world.
The Iranian regime unjustly cut short the two boys’ lives. The Amnesty International report also documented disturbing abuse and floggings inflicted by authorities in the final moments before their deaths. According to the Amnesty report, the boys were just 15 when they received hasty convictions following a questionable set of legal maneuvers that suggest arbitrary detention.
These most recent juvenile executions follow an all-too-familiar practice in Iran. The United States condemns Iran’s practice of executing and even torturing minors, giving it the appalling distinction as the world’ leading executioner of children. Amnesty International’s finding unfortunately is consistent with Iran’s egregious overall human rights record. More than 90 juveniles, as Amnesty International notes, are currently at risk of execution.
This is unacceptable. We will continue to shine the light on the regime and ask others to join us in holding Iran’s corrupt leaders accountable for their crimes.
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