[JURIST] Three UN human rights experts on Tuesday urged Iran to halt the possible execution of a juvenile [press release] that was sentenced to death for fatally stabbing a man. In February 2014 the minor was granted a retrial because of new juvenile sentencing provisions of the 2013 Islamic Penal Code [text, PDF]. However in June 2015 the Provincial Criminal Court of Kermanshah Province ruled that he was mature enough at the time of the crime to understand his actions and rejected his argument of self-defense from a rape attempt. The three experts stated [press release], “Iran must observe its international obligations by putting an end to the execution of juvenile offenders once and for all.” They also condemned alleged executions of those who are drug offenders. “Under international law, countries which have retained the death penalty may only impose it for the most serious crimes, that is, those involving intentional killing. Drug related offences do not meet this threshold.”

The UN has placed significant pressure on Iran in recent months for its human rights violations. The UN human rights experts on cultural rights and on freedom of expression called in October for the release of artists [JURIST report] jailed by the Islamic Republic of Iran. In August Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran Ahmed Shaheed expressed “outrage” [JURIST report] regarding Iran’s execution of 12 people for drug-related charges on Saturday. The day before the execution, Shaheed had publicly appealed [JURIST report] to the Iranian authorities not to proceed with the planned executions.