I've just sat in my room looking at two extraordinary websites. The first, http://www.helpnazanin.com/ was created to highlight the plight of Nazanin Fatehi in Iran. At the age of 17 she was attacked by three men who tried to rape her and in the struggle she killed one of them. She was subsequently charged with murder and sentenced to death by hanging. The campaign to save her is a remarkable story that, in January 2007, was ultimately successful. She is now free - trying to rebuild her life - and trying to get an education.
Many others are still not so fortunate. The second site is http://www.stopchildexecutions.com/ - although Iran has ratified Article 37(a) of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child which states "[No] capital punishment... shall be imposed for offences committed by persons below eighteen years of age", there are many in jails in Iran right now who have been sentenced to death for crimes committed while they were under 18. In some cases the authorities seem to keep them in jail until they're 18 and then try to justify carrying out the sentence - in others there is evidence they have lied about the age and carried out the sentences.
I sat and read Nazanin's story in tears. By the time I had watched the video on the second site - as well as more tears - I felt I had to say something and do something.
No - this isn't the right place but I don't care. If people read this site for their pleasure, then perhaps a few will take the trouble to look at these other sites and also commit to taking action to stop the executions of children.
Please - do whatever you can. The story of Nazanin shows that we can make a difference.
No comments:
Post a Comment