The MEK opposes the death penalty and is committed to reforming Iran’s criminal justice system, as part of its political platform.

The Iranian regime’s record on human rights is so poor that it has been censured by the United Nations 66 times. These abuses are clearly displayed in the regime judiciary’s treatment of juvenile offenders who, under Iranian law, may be put to death for crimes committed while below the legal age of adulthood. The MEK opposes the death penalty and is committed to reforming Iran’s criminal justice system, as part of its political platform.

Juvenile Offender Executed

Arsalan Yasini was hanged at dawn on Monday, August 17 in Urmia Prison. The 25-year-old man was only 17 when he was arrested and charged with the murder of his grandparents.

Human rights organizations report that Yasini was moved to a solitary cell on Sunday in preparation for his execution.

Three Minors Charged with Capital Crimes

On August 10, the 5th Branch of the Tehran Penal Court charged three teenagers with “Moharebeh” or “enmity against God” for their alleged membership in ISIS. The charge carries a potential death sentence.

State-run media in Iran have been unable to fully identify the children, but they were able to determine that two of the minors are Iraqi teenage boys. One of the Iraqis is 14 years old, and the other is named Emad. The third teen is an Iranian named Mobin.

The three boys have been imprisoned for three years. According to reports from the MEK network, the 14-year-old and Mobin both denied that they were ISIS members. Mobin said that he joined because he thought he would be given a car, motorcycle, and money, but he changed his mind when he realized what the group wanted him to do.

“They beat and tortured me when I told them I could not carry out suicide missions,” the teenager told the court.

Emad had similar testimony. “I wanted to escape but I was afraid they would kill me,” he said.

All three boys denied entering Iran for the purpose of carrying out an attack. The 14-year-old said he wasn’t aware they were in Iran. Nevertheless, they could all face execution for a choice they made as children. The 14-year-old has been in prison for three years, and it is unknown when he was recruited by ISIS with promises of motorcycles and money.

Police Wound Father and Kill 13-Year-Old Son

Local police in Shirinabad Qahavand village in Hamedan Province fired on a man and his son while they drove to irrigate their farm, wounding one and killing the other.

The shooting occurred on August 4 near a police checkpoint. According to locals, historical artifacts are buried at the checkpoint, and the police were digging in the area when Masihollah Veisi and his son Mohammad-Reza drove by on a motorcycle. A source reported that there was no warning before shots rang out.

Initial reports of the incident were posted on social media, along with pictures of Mohammad-Reza. Soon after, an official with the Hamedan police denied the report and claimed that the grieving father and his dead son were committing a crime when they were gunned down.

According to the Social Deputy of Hamadan Police Headquarters, Veisi and his son were searching for buried artifacts and “tried to run away when they heard the police sirens.”

He added, “The suspects heard the police sirens, did not heed the police ordering them to stop and the warning shots fired into the air.”

The Deputy concluded his tale by claiming that the police “were forced to shoot at them.”

He also stated that one of the “suspects” was transported to the hospital but did not survive. He did not specify in his report, which was broadcast on state-run television without challenge, that this “suspect” was a child.