Hangings in Iran (Archives)
Photo:AFP
Iran hangs woman for murder committed when minor
Tehran media reports 23-year-old woman convicted of murder at 17 executed. Human rights groups 'outraged' by act
Iran has
executed a woman convicted of a murdering her father's cousin when she was 17, Iranian media reported on Saturday.
Human rights groups criticized Iran's execution on Friday of 23-year-old Delara Darabi in the northern city of Rasht.
"Delara Darabi, a painter charged with murder, was executed on Friday morning in Rasht prison without her lawyer and familybeing informed of her execution," The daily Etemad reported on Saturday.
The paper said Darabi had been in jail for five years and had initially confessed to the murder because she believed she would be pardoned as the crime was committed when she was a minor.
"Amnesty International is outraged at the execution of Delara Darabi, and particularly at the news that her lawyer was not informed about the execution," Amnesty said on its website.
Human rights groups have criticized Iran for sentencing minors to death. Iran says it only carries out the death penalty when a prisoner reaches the age of 18.
Iran has executed at least 42 juvenile criminals since 1990, including seven in 2007, according to the groups which say Saudi Arabia and Yemen are the only two other countries to do so.
