Document - Iran: Death penalty/imminent execution: Karim Fahimi, also known as Karim Shalo (m)
PUBLIC AI Index: MDE 13/069/2005
14 November 2005
UA 289/05 Death penalty/imminent execution
IRAN Karim Fahimi, also known as Karim Shalo (m)
Karim Fahimi was sentenced to death in June. The sentence has now been upheld by the Supreme Court, and he could be executed at any time.
Karim Fahimi, a Kurd, who is married with two young children, was reportedly sentenced to death for drinking alcohol, by a court in the city of Sardasht, western Iran. It was at least the third time he had been convicted of the offence: under article 174 of the Iranian Penal Code, the penalty for consuming any intoxicant is 100 lashes; under article 179, this penalty may be handed down twice, but a third conviction carries the death penalty.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Amnesty International opposes the death penalty in all cases as the ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment, in violation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The organization has recorded 72 executions in Iran so far this year, although the true figure may be much higher.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible, in Persian, English, Arabic or your own language:
- urging the authorities to commute the death sentence imposed on Karim Fahimi;
- asking for details of his trial and any appeals, and of his legal representation;
- acknowledging that governments have a responsibility to bring to justice those suspected of criminal offences, but stating your unconditional opposition to the death penalty, as the ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment and violation of the right to life.
APPEALS TO:
Leader of the Islamic Republic
His Excellency Ayatollah Sayed ‘Ali Khamenei
The Presidency, Palestine Avenue, Azerbaijan Intersection
Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Fax: + 98 21 6 649 5880 (mark "FAO the Office of His Excellency, Ayatollah al Udhma Khamenei")
Email: info@wilayah.org
Salutation: Your Excellency
Head of the Judiciary
His Excellency Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi
Ministry of Justice, Park-e Shahr, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Email: irjpr@iranjudiciary.org (mark "Please forward to His Excellency Ayatollah Shahroudi")
Salutation: Your Excellency
COPIES TO:
Minister of the Interior
Hojatoleslam Mustafa Purmohammadi
Ministry of the Interior
Dr Fatemi Avenue
Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Email: ravabetomomi@moi.gov.ir
Fax: +98 21 8 896 203
+98 21 8 899 547
+98 21 6 650 203
COPIES TO:
Speaker of Parliament
Gholamali Haddad Adel
Majles-e Shoura-ye Eslami
Imam Khomeini Avenue, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Fax: + 98 21 6 646 1746
and to diplomatic representatives of Iran accredited to your country.
PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat, or your section office, if sending appeals after 26 December 2005.