Iran commutes death sentences of six juvenile offenders

AFP, TEHRAN: Iran has commuted death sentences against six juvenile offenders following UN criticism it was executing people who had committed crimes as children at “an unprecedented rate”, a report said Thursday.
Prosecutors asked the judiciary to reconsider 10 cases, the Shahrvand newspaper quoted Tehran chief prosecutor Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi as saying.
“Six requests were accepted and their death sentences overturned,” he said.
International conventions outlaw the death penalty for offences committed by minors but Iranian law allows executions of those convicted of such offences once they reach 18.
However, it also allows for death sentences to be commuted to compensation to victims’ families if it is determined that the juvenile offenders did not understand the full gravity of their actions.

Iran commutes death sentences of six juvenile offenders

AFP, TEHRAN: Iran has commuted death sentences against six juvenile offenders following UN criticism it was executing people who had committed crimes as children at an unprecedented rate, a report said Thursday. Prosecutors asked the judiciary to reconsider 10 cases, the Shahrvand newspaper quoted Tehran chief prosecutor Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi as saying. Six requests were accepted and their death sentences overturned, he said. International conventions outlaw the death penalty for offences committed by minors but Iranian law allows executions of those convicted of such offences once they reach 18. However, it also allows for death sentences to be commuted to compensation to victims families if it is determined that the juvenile offenders did not understand the full gravity of their actions.