08/05/2009 / IRAN
What was so upsetting about Delara's case was that she had just been given a two-month suspension [stay of execution]. Only 10 days later Delara was executed. Nobody was informed and she was only allowed a few minutes' conversation with her mother directly before.
Prison in Iran through the eyes of a young painter on death row
These are the works of a young Iranian woman, convicted of murder at the age of 17, who spent her days on death row painting. Christened "The prisoner of colours", Delara Darabi, who protested her innocence after she was sentenced, was hanged in Rasht prison last Friday.
Darabi spent almost six years in prison after she originally confessed to murdering her father's wealthy cousin in 2003. She later said she had been persuaded to plead guilty by her older boyfriend, Amar Hossein, aged 19 at the time. As the minor of the pair, it was thought Darabi would escape a death sentence. But while the boy received a ten-year jail term as an accomplice to murder, Darabi was sentenced to death.
Darabi's family and friends fought hard to prevent her execution. Her plight attracted the attention of international human rights activists, but to no avail.
Contributors
The “Prisoner of Colours”
One of our Observers for Iran Farnaz Seifi tells us that Delara's family would have been allowed to supply her with materials and then take the finished paintings out of the prison (human rights activist Nazanin Afshin-Jam also says she sent Delara supplies).
Images taken from the Help Delara MySpace page.
“Iran executes more child offenders than anywhere else in the world”
London-based Javaneh Rowshanrad set up a Facebook group to raise awareness and support for Delara's case.
What was so upsetting about Delara's case was that she had just been given a two-month suspension [stay of execution]. Only 10 days later Delara was executed. Nobody was informed and she was only allowed a few minutes' conversation with her mother directly before. There are over 140 young people on death row all over Iran. Most of them were arrested under the age of 18, anything from 12 upwards, they have little or no access to legal advice nor advocacy services. Except for China, Iran executes more young people than anywhere else in the world [Amnesty International cites that Iran itself is the biggest executor of child offenders, followed by the USA]."
Delara before she was detained
Image posted on Help Delara MySpace page.
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Delara Darabis execution
Submitted by alireza amirhajebi (not verified) on Tue, 19/05/2009 - 12:47.Delara Darabis execution shocked many journalists and observers.she was very close to forgiveness.this is another story that will explain.but at border of this issue some questions rais that fallowing explanations will be useful for clarification.
The question is:how delara could manage painting at prison and send out her artwork?
It is not extraordinary at iran prisons.when the accusers condemned to ex ecution(most of them go to hanging)at trials,they must wait at prison for execution date or apeal courts.a very long time that can make them completly depress.In some case they decide to suicide.
Authorities try to littel bit open their environment that such prisoners entertain themselves with more opportunity more visit with attorney and family,painting,sport,manipulations,artificial activity.it is very regular and currently.
But another reason is hide in this case.many official judge,presecutors and attornies wanted to help Delara for satisfy "killed family" whose complain her.some authorities wants with her painting open windows to save her.spmething like compassionate and assist.but islami laws are very inflexible and all efforts went to hell.
Most important question is: In despite of legal successful activities for stoping her sentence,why she hanged?
Protesting and objection in iran has diffrent ways.we must know how to confront with cases.in Delara case which is private type.
It was better human right activitists,journalists and others whoes want save her , move at quiet space without any"kicking up"in media.without any propaganda.all relate to killed family positions that could change.
In calm atmosphere with avoiding any provocatins.
We could be suucceed.but some newspaperss wort something very harsh,tough,make gossip which could not help and make it worst.
On contrary Roxana Saberi neeed to pressure with media and other protest(nationa-internationa)and continution and show strong positions face to gov.we have experience that in similar case gov retreated.
Roxan case need to pojections informations.
Unregistered user
Humanity should go forward.
Submitted by slim (not verified) on Sun, 17/05/2009 - 02:10.This story is definitely sad. All executions around the world should be forbidden, especially when it's about children.
But there is no link between islam and this execution. When a US state executes a prisonnier, no one says that it's because of the religion of that state!!
It's only laws that are proper to each country, and not "islamic barbarities" like some had said, so you shouldn't confuse between these two things.
You can be sure that there is tens of Delara in other countries, but Iran is just too mediatized and targeted.
God bless her. Humanity should grow up and go forward.
Unregistered user
I beg to differ. Iran is a
Submitted by bugs (not verified) on Thu, 21/05/2009 - 01:52.I beg to differ. Iran is a theocracy led by Sharia (Islamic law). Saying that Islam had nothing to do with it is simply ignoring the fact that it was the Islamic law that executed her.
That is not to say that other ideologies can't come up with similar laws.
Unregistered user
Islamic Barbarians
Submitted by Justice for women (not verified) on Sat, 09/05/2009 - 23:06.Why Delara killed her uncle in the first place? Did her uncle try to rape her and did she kill him in self defense? Then, why Delara should be punished by these Islamic barbarians?
Unregistered user
Delara's story
Submitted by Javaneh Rows... on Sat, 16/05/2009 - 03:46.Delaram was arrested at the age of 17 yrs for the murder of her fathers cousin. She admitted to the crime initially because her boyfriend had asked her to in the belief that anyone under the age of 18 would not be executed for murder. She later retracted her confession.
Execution is the penalty for murder in Iran under Sharia (Islamic law) law. Although young people under the age of 18 are not permitted to be executed by the same law, they are usually sentenced to prison until they reach the legal age and then executed at some later date.
Javaneh Rows...
Justice
Submitted by Free Text Articles (not verified) on Sat, 09/05/2009 - 22:18.This is a tragic crime against children and justice itself.
Unregistered user
Death penalties for children
Submitted by Uma Maheswar Nakka (not verified) on Sun, 24/05/2009 - 19:50.This was really barabarious and treacherous to hang Delara Darabi despite having a temporary stay from Iran''s judiciary chief, Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi.
Now any nation has to ban this sort of punishment as no one has the right to take some one's life.
so sad is this incident. I do not understand how any one can hang such an innocent person.
May her soul rest in Peace in her Heavenly abode
God save this world.
uma maheswar nakka
Unregistered user