Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions A/HRC/14/24/Add.1
para 404
Full recommendation:
Although the death penalty is not, per se, prohibited under international law, I would like to
remind your Excellency’s Government that it must be regarded as an extreme exception to the
fundamental right to life, and must as such be interpreted in the most restrictive manner. It is
crucial that all restrictions and fair trial standards pertaining to capital punishment contained in
international human rights law are fully respected in proceedings relating to capital
offences. As Article 14(5) of the ICCPR provides, “Everyone convicted of a crime shall
have the right to his conviction and sentence being reviewed by a higher tribunal according to
law.” Since the Head of the Judiciary has ordered a review of Mr. Haddadi’s case, no
execution should be carried out before the completion of the review.
Assessment using Impact Iran indicators1
A. Since the Head of the Judiciary has ordered a review of Mr. Haddadi’s case, no
execution should be carried out before the completion of the review
Mohammad Reza Haddadi has been in prison since 2002. He is accused of committing murder
while stealing a car in Kazerun, along with three other people when he was aged 15. Haddadi
had initially pleaded guilty but later explained that his two co-defendants had coerced him into
confessing by promising him money to take the blame for the murder, telling him that he would
not receive the death penalty as he was underage.2 Both co-defendants were over the age of 18 at
the time of the crime and received prison sentences. But Mohammad Reza Haddadi’s qisas
(retribution) death sentence was upheld by the Supreme Court in July 2005.3 While he has not
been executed, as of August 19th, 2020, Mr. Haddadi was still in imprisoned and on death row
for a crime he allegedly committed when he was a juvenile, contrary to international law4. As of
this date, his case was still under the review of the Supreme Court.5 Since the trial, the execution
of Mr. Haddadi has been postponed and canceled at least six times.6
1
CCPR.6.2.S.3
CCPR.6.3.P.4
CCPR.6.1.O.1
CCPR.14.3.S.4; CCPR.14.3.S.4;CCPR.14.3.P.2; CCPR.14.3.P.2;CCPR.14.3.O.3; CCPR.14.3.O.3
2
Iran Human Rights: https://iranhr.net/en/articles/4392/
3
Iran Human Rights: https://iranhr.net/en/articles/3747/
4
See, for example Article 6 of the ICCPR and Article 37 (A) of the CRC.
5 Iran Human Rights: https://iranhr.net/en/articles/4392/
6
https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/campaigns/2018/10/death-penalty-iran/
1