138 MPs condemn Iran's execution of gays and minors

[xmasdale]

Outrage have sent us this:

138 British MPs condemn Iran's execution of gays and minors

Call for Iran to observe the international human rights conventions it
has signed

London – 23 August 2006

British MPs from all parties have signed an Early Day Motion in the
House of Commons condemning Iran's execution of gay people and
children (full text below).

The motion was tabled by out gay Labour MP, Chris Bryant, who
represents the south Wales working class constituency of the Rhondda.

"So far, 138 MPs have signed the EDM," reports Brett Lock of the gay
human rights group OutRage!, which helped brief the MP on human rights
abuses in Iran.

"Many more would have signed had it not been for the summer period
when lots of them go away. We are delighted that so many MPs are
concerned about the persecution of gay people and of women who don't
conform to Tehran's hardline interpretation of Islam."

Mr Lock also praised Chris Bryant for raising Iranian human rights
abuses during the House of Common’s European Union Affairs debate in
June (copy below):

"Chris made a moving, informative contribution to the debate, exposing
Iran's increasing use of the death penalty for a wide range of crimes,
including violations of Islamic morality," noted Mr Lock. "When it
comes to the barbaric hangings in Iran, Chris is the conscience of the
Commons."

Further information:

Brett Lock – OutRage! 0770 843 5917

Chris Bryant MP – 020 7219 8315 or 01443 687 697

EDM 2616 IRANIAN EXECUTIONS OF MINORS19.07.2006

Bryant, Chris – Labour MP for Rhondda

That this House commemorates the anniversary of the public hanging on
19th July 2005 of two gay teenage boys, Mahmoud Asgari and Ayaz
Marhoni, in Mashad in Iran; notes that at the time of their alleged
crimes the two boys were at most 17 years and possibly younger;
further commemorates the hanging in Nekra in northern Iran on 15th
August 2004 of a 16 year old girl, Ateqeh Sahaleh, on charges of
un-Islamic behaviour; condemns these and all other Iranian executions
of under-age minors, which are in direct contravention of the
International Convention on the Rights of the Child, to which Iran is
a signatory; notes that as many as 4,000 Iranians have been executed
for their homosexuality since the Islamic Revolution in 1979; and
calls on Iran to stop its campaign of torture, harassment and
ill-treatment against gays and to end all executions of minors.

Signatures( 138)

Bryant, Chris
Herbert, Nick
Joyce, Eric
Gove, Michael
Eagle, Angela
Llwyd, Elfyn
Prentice, Gordon
Purchase, Ken
Reid, Alan
Ruddock, Joan
Simpson, Alan
Spellar, John
Harris, Evan
Heath, David
Hood, Jimmy
Hoyle, Lindsay
Johnson, Boris
Jones, Kevan
Keen, Alan
Linton, Martin
Marris, Rob
Maude, Francis
McDonagh, Siobhain
McDonnell, John
McKechin, Ann
Moore, Michael
Morley, Elliot
Mountford, Kali
Mudie, George
Mullin, Chris
Breed, Colin
Buck, Karen
Campbell, Ronnie
Challen, Colin
Clapham, Michael
Cohen, Harry
Cryer, Ann
Davies, David TC
Dobson, Frank
Doran, Frank
Efford, Clive
Fisher, Mark
Flynn, Paul
Francis, Hywel
George, Andrew
Goodwill, Robert
Abbott, Diane
Hamilton, David
Baker, Norman
Bercow, John
Betts, Clive
Stewart, Ian
Strang, Gavin
Stringer, Graham
Tami, Mark
Taylor, Dari
Taylor, David
Teather, Sarah
Thurso, John
Wright, Iain
Younger-Ross, Richard
Hillier, Meg
Brown, Lyn
Butler, Dawn
Clark, Katy
Creagh, Mary
Flello, Robert
Goodman, Helen
Griffith, Nia
Hands, Greg
Jackson, Stewart
James, Sian C
Johnson, Diana R
Keeley, Barbara
Horwood, Martin
Khan, Sadiq
McCarthy-Fry, Sarah
Thornberry, Emily
Newmark, Brooks
Penning, Mike
Pritchard, Mark
Waltho, Lynda
Reed, Jamie
Shapps, Grant
Willott, Jenny
Pope, Greg
Rosindell, Andrew
Spink, Bob
Jones, Lynne
MacKay, Andrew
Meale, Alan
Burgon, Colin
Cable, Vincent
Caton, Martin
Conway, Derek
Corbyn, Jeremy
Dean, Janet
Durkan, Mark
Garnier, Edward
Hancock, Mike
Bottomley, Peter
Weir, Mike
Hemming, John
Austin, Ian
Moon, Madeleine
Williams, Stephen
Price, Adam
Pugh, John
Russell, Bob
Sheridan, Jim
Hermon, Sylvia
Hopkins, Kelvin
Iddon, Brian
Lepper, David
Loughton, Tim
McCafferty, Chris
Brake, Tom
Burden, Richard
Cummings, John
Dismore, Andrew
Drew, David
Bayley, Hugh
Vaz, Keith
Vis, Rudi
Wareing, Robert N
Williams, Betty
Anderson, David
Leech, John
McGovern, Jim
Holmes, Paul
Illsley, Eric
Lewis, Julian
Moffatt, Laura
Gerrard, Neil
Williams, Hywel
Willis, Phil
Wyatt, Derek
Swinson, Jo

Chris Bryant MP, speaking in the House of Commons debate on European
Union Affairs on 14 June 2006:

Hansard – official transcript of the parliamentary debate:

14 Jun 2006 : Column 864

Equally important, however, is the issue of human rights in Iran.
Iran’s human rights record is grisly. It has been so for many years,
but in many ways it has become worse in the past 18 months. Last week
in the other place, Lord Triesman reported that the number of
executions in Iran had increased dramatically compared to this time
last year. We know that the use of the death penalty in Iran is on the
increase: Amnesty International reckons that there were at least 94
instances of its use last year in Iran, and the International
Federation of Human Rights estimates a much higher number of
cases—between 300 and 400.

I know that not all hon. Members believe that the death penalty is
wrong. I believe that it is wrong in all instances, just as torture is
wrong, but it is particularly wrong when it is imposed on minors—those
aged under 18. Last year, at least nine people aged under 18 were
executed in Iran. In 2004, a 16-year-old girl was hanged for
fornication and a 14-year-old boy was whipped to death for eating
during Ramadan. That is not a situation that people either in this
country or across the European Union can countenance any longer.

Furthermore, the death penalty is regularly used in Iran for lavaat,
or homosexuality. On 19 July 2005, Ayaz Marhuuni and Mahmoud Askari
were executed in Mashhad. They were both 17, although the authorities
tried to say that they were 19, and at the time of the alleged crimes,
they were probably 15 or 16. Almost certainly, the charges presented
against them, which changed from day to day, were trumped up. Not only
were they hanged, but it was not a British-style hanging; instead, as
is often the case when the death penalty is used for lavaat, they were
executed by a slow hanging method whereby a thin cord is placed to the
side of the neck so that the neck does not break and the person
struggles on the cord, often for several minutes, before being
asphyxiated. It is a deliberately brutal and cruel death, which we
should not countenance.

At least 11 people were executed for lavaat between December 2004 and
November 2005. Many more have been sentenced and no more has been
heard of them, but we can be fairly certain that in many cases the
execution has happened, not in public as used to happen, but in
private. In addition to that, there are many honour killings in parts
of Iran. One expert on the Ahwaz region said that homosexuals

“are generally killed in Ahwaz, by the security forces or by their
male kin, in one of three ways: strangulation, throat-slitting or
decapitation. If the homosexual youths are killed by the security
forces, their corpses—frequently decapitated but accompanied by their
heads—are left in the street. Their families therefore have a certain
tragic incentive to kill them more humanely”—

Madam Deputy Speaker: Order. In the limited time left, the hon.
Gentleman should relate his remarks to the European Union.

Chris Bryant: I am grateful to you, Madam Deputy Speaker. I was about
to say that what the EU has tried to do, albeit perhaps not frequently
enough, is raise such human rights issues in its discussions with the
Iranian authorities. I believe that this week provides a real
opportunity for the EU to make progress and, in particular, to make
sure that no EU country repatriates anyone from Iran who seeks asylum
by virtue of their

14 Jun 2006 : Column 865

homosexuality. Some people have been repatriated to Iran by other
European countries and have subsequently been executed. There are, of
course, countries in Europe that have a mixed record on those human
rights issues, but I believe that the EU has a unique opportunity to
move forward with a robust record on human rights.

Ends

[DeFecToR]

Yeah, its disgusting isnt it? Iran being the only state that does naughty things that us civilized types are above.
DAMN THEM EVIL EYE'RAY'NEANS!!
If only THEY were out of the way then everything would be just fine.

BOMB THEM NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Snowygrouch]

All,
What about the hundreds of people killed under state sanction in America!!!!!!!!!!

What about the fact the death row rates in good `ol Bush n Jebs states are astronomically above most other states.

What about Bush mocking a death row victim in a magazine article.

What about bush refusing clemency

What about nearly TWO THOUSAND famers in Andhra Pradesh who KILLED THEMSEVES BY DRINKING THEIR OWN PESTICIDES IN PROTEST AT US INSTIGATED WTO RULES THAT RUINED THEIR LIVES!

If you`re interested it is estimated that 20,000 indian farmers have committed suicide as a direct result of american sanctioned WTO trade rules.

(Anuradha Mittal "food sovereignty: A new farm economy to challenge economic globalization" Oakland Institute 26th July 2004.

I just cannot believe the priorities we end up supporting, I hasten to add that naturally I condemn such Iranian actions but we have issues closer to home we can change.

Sorry but I get pretty steamed up when suddenly parliment is galvanised by events which in the grand scheme of things are a couple of rungs down the ladder of evil events.

[Skeptic]

Perhaps this thread would be a good place to collate sourced information about other countries that break the human rights convention in order to put this issue into context.

[ianrcrane]

The U.S.A. has carried out 1,041 executions in the past 30 years; 36 since the beginning of this year. The average being 71 executions per year over the past 10 years.

In addition, the United States has the highest prison population rate in the world; 714 per 100,000 of the national population.

The Neo-Con administration is apparently anticipating that this figure will increase shortly, having recently budgeted $46million dollars for FEMA to maintain the archipelago of 600 (currently empty) concentration camps, codenamed Operation Endgame; which is supposedly a plan to prevent illegal immigrants from evading deportation ....yer, right!


Meanwhile, the Patriot Act, the Homeland Security Act and all the other restrictive legislation introduced since 9/11 (& in the UK too) goes unchallenged as the British media ramp up the campaign to demonise the Iranian regime in preparation for the coming attack.

It's just so easy to promote the failings of intended adversaries, whilst conveniently ignoring that which is occuring right under our nose.

Everyone must of course focus on the issues closest to their heart but let's be sure that we keep reading between the lines.

Ian R. Crane

[xmasdale]

[andyb]

I'm glad these MP's can take time from their holidays to sign drivel like this yet allow Israel to bomb the hell out of Lebanon.

[Snowygrouch]

All,
Check this nonsense out for size.
Official Conservative t-shirt, NOT a photoshop job I promise you.
F`king unreal

[Belinda]

How very timely in view of the official urge to create a new Middle Eastern bogeyman out of the Iranian mullahs to highlight their human rights abuses which have been going on for 28 years and have been condemned 53? 54? times by the UN and in a similarly long string of Amnesty International reports.

Demonisation of Iran is a tap which is turned on and then off according to political convenience, you'd never have got this issue aired 7/8 years ago when the Blair government was courting the mullahs for oil and other goodies. ALL regimes of modern times have atrocious human rights records, for my money boiling people alive in Kazakhstan? Uzbekistan? is about as bad as it gets but hey-ho, this is the world isn't it, where/when has there ever been a kind and fair regime.

When 130 MPs sign up for TRUTH and proper Accountability in modern political life then we'll really be making progress!!

[paul wright]

This is the road towards nuking Iran not least their nuclear facilities
The use of nukes was signed off a year ago by Bush, and that's why Myanmar moved its capital infrastructure 200 miles north from Rangoon earlier this year, to avoid the radioactive plume resulting from the attack on Iran Predictions that the heaviest fallout will fall on Rangoon