The determination of the international community faced a severe test on Friday, November 24, as the clerical dictatorship in Iran executed Hamidreza Azari, a 17-year-old prisoner. This incident occurred amidst heightened scrutiny of Iranian authorities for an increased pace of executions, seen by many as a repressive response to the nationwide uprising triggered by the death of a young woman at the hands of “morality police.”
The Iranian legal system, grounded in fundamentalist interpretations of Sharia, deems boys responsible at around 15 years, while international law defines a minor as anyone under 18, explicitly prohibiting their execution. Iranian officials, including their self-proclaimed human rights monitor, dismiss relevant UN and international provisions, arguing that domestic laws supersede international norms if rooted in cultural or religious traditions.
Despite international standards, Iran remains one of the few nations routinely implementing the death penalty for those under 18. Typically, executions are delayed until condemned minors reach adulthood to manage international backlash. However, Azari’s execution deviated from this practice, with state media allegedly misrepresenting his age to deflect criticism.
In the 1980s, the clerical regime gained infamy for indiscriminate executions of minors. Azari’s execution raises concerns whether it signals a resurgence of state-sanctioned killings of minors, aiming to instill fear in the country’s predominantly restless youth.
The timing of Azari’s execution coincided with a dismissive response from Foreign Ministry spokesman Naser Kanaani to a European Parliamentary resolution condemning Iran’s human rights violations. Additionally, 21-year-old Milad Zohrevand was reportedly executed in secret, linked to last year’s uprising. Despite the regime’s measured approach to publicizing executions, Zohrevand’s mistreatment persisted even after his death, highlighting the denial of due process and basic rights.
Ali Saber-Motlaq, a former political prisoner, faced secret execution for alleged involvement with the pro-democracy opposition group. Ayoub Karimi, a Kurdish political prisoner, was executed despite warnings from human rights organizations, exemplifying the regime’s relentless retaliation against dissent.
The regime’s actions signal a deliberate effort to tighten its grip on society, escalating human rights violations. The international community’s silence emboldens the regime, perceiving itself with impunity domestically. If global leaders continue to treat human rights concerns as mere leverage, Iran may revisit its troubling past, potentially resulting in more severe consequences, including mass migration. A collective, resolute response from the international community is imperative to address the escalating human rights crisis in Iran.