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Gay News: An Iranian youth has been sentenced to death after false accusation of gay assault.
By: Nigel Robinson
Hamidi could hang at any time
“Ebrahim's case shows the flaws and failings of the Iranian legal system. It is further evidence that innocent people are sentenced on false charges of homosexuality."
“The claims of the Iranian authorities cannot be trusted. Our best hope is to persuade the Chief Justice of Iran, Sadeq Larijani, to veto Ebrahim's execution.
“[In the UK] we urge people to ask their MP and MEPs to lobby the Foreign Secretary, William Hague, and the Iranian Ambassador to London.
Hamidi could hang at any time
18-year-old Iranian sentenced to death
Ebrahim Hamidi was sentenced to death on 21 June 2010, following vague accusations of sexually assaulting another male.
He is due to hang – despite the fact that his accuser has admitted he lied and has withdrawn his allegation.
The Supreme Court in Iran has twice rejected the guilty verdict and death sentence, and has asked for a re-examination of the case.
However, the provincial court of East Azerbaijan province, who gave the guilty verdict, has ignored the request. Hamidi could be executed at any time.
The guilty verdict was given after the member of a family with whom Hamidi’s family were feuding, accused Hamidi of attempting to sexually assault him.
The man later admitted that he had lied about the incident, and had done so under parental pressure.
Hamidi currently has no legal representation.
His lawyer, Mohmammad Mostafaei, has been forced into hiding after a warrant for his arrest was issued by the Iranian authorities, following his attempts to stop the stoning to death of Iranian woman Sakineh Ashtiani on charges of adultery.
Dan Littauer, editor of Gay Middle East, said: “There is no evidence that Hamidi is gay or that he committed any crime. This execution must be stopped.”
In a statement, human rights activist, Peter Tatchell, said:
“Ebrahim's case shows the flaws and failings of the Iranian legal system. It is further evidence that innocent people are sentenced on false charges of homosexuality."
“The claims of the Iranian authorities cannot be trusted. Our best hope is to persuade the Chief Justice of Iran, Sadeq Larijani, to veto Ebrahim's execution.
“[In the UK] we urge people to ask their MP and MEPs to lobby the Foreign Secretary, William Hague, and the Iranian Ambassador to London.
“Letters from MPs and MEPs will have maximum influence and impact. Please urge your MP and MEPs to write letters of protest urgently.
“An international campaign can help stop Ebrahim's execution, just as a similar global campaign has, so far, halted the stoning to death of Sakineh Ashtiani.”
