Thursday July 5, 2007, 7:09 am
http://salem-news.com/articles/july042007/delara_darabi_7407.php

The 20-year old Death Row female inmate weighs 75 pounds and has been banned from all artwork.
Iranian deah row inmate Delara Darabi
Delara Darabi's image inset into one of her paintings. Her advocates are asking everyone to sign a petition that will be delivered to the Iranian government in hopes of sparing her a death sentence. Advocates say she falsely confessed.

(TEHRAN, Iran) - Advocates are steaming over an Iran Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the death sentence of a young woman named Delara Darabi. It is the second time the court has heard the case, and the 20-year old faces death by public hanging for a murder that took place when she was 17 years old.

Newspaper articles and court reports indicate that Delara’s 19-year old boyfriend, Amir Hossein, convinced her to admit responsibility for the murder of a woman that he committed, to protect him from execution.

It was reasoned at the time that if Delara took the fall for the crime, she would not be sentenced to death because she was still 17.

It was a big risk, and a losing wager. The court parted from traditional ways and sentenced her to hang. They gave her boyfriend Amir Hossein a ten year prison sentence.

Lily Mazahery who is leading the fight to free the woman from the clutches of her death sentence, says that the struggle for the young woman has been anything but fair or honest.

"With complete disregard for its obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and despite overwhelming evidence of Delara’s innocence, as well as the teenager’s repeated denials about having had any role in the commission of the crime, a court in the city of Rasht found the girl-child guilty of murder based solely on her initial claim of responsibility."

Since that ruling Mazahery says, the regime has repeatedly demonstrated patent disregard for its promises to the international community and to the rights of Iranian children, by upholding Delara’s death sentence.

One woman who was Delara Darabi's cell mate in the Rasht Women's Prison for a year. She says they became close friends, and says about that time, "We had both sweet and sour moments."

"We were sitting in the prison yard one day when we noticed a little ant going in a direction where it would have been crushed. Delara picked it up and put it in a safe place. The former cell mate says she knew then that Dalara, a person who literally wouldn't hurt an ant, could not be a murderer.

For a long time, Delara was able to deal with prison. In fact, Mazahery says that until recently, Delara had proven to be a remarkably poised young prisoner with an amazing talent for painting and drawing.

"She has used her gift to compile a diary of her pain as a child prisoner on death row. From the dark confines of her prison cell, Delara produced an impressive collection of paintings that speak of the horrors of prison, of torture, of beatings, of hopelessness, loneliness, and the loss of a child’s innocence. "

Her father weeps when he talks about a daughter who he says, does not belong in prison. "Delara is silence, I am her shriek, her cry for help. Even if I have to reach the heavens and do the impossible, I'll declare her innocence up there."

His grief is immense, and compounded by the fact that he initially doubted her and failed to protect her. Her mother says her husband, "gave her to the police." Their hearts grow heavier by the day.

They are haunting images; depictions of injustice and brutality. They are the stories of the innocent women and children of Iran, shackled by what many call the injustices of a brutal regime.

They are described as a teenager’s diary of crimes against humanity committed by the very government that should serve as her protector, but is, instead, her jailer and her executioner.

"In retaliation to exposing their horrifying crimes, officials took away the only remaining outlet of Delara’s pain: They confiscated her painting materials," Mazahery added.

"When Delara used coal and whatever else she could find to paint her pain on the walls of her prison, they subjected the young artist -- nicknamed 'prisoner of colors' -- to brutal forms of emotional and physical abuse."

She says officials banned her from painting altogether, "and they prevented her from having any visitors or contacting her lawyer except for twice a month briefly by phone. Their abuse proved too much for young Delara, who, true to her sensitive disposition as an artist, wears her pain woefully close to the surface of her skin."

Then on January 20th, 2007, Delara attempted suicide by cutting her wrists.

"Fortunately, her cell-mate noticed the incident and called for help" Lily Mazahery said. "Delara’s emaciated body was rushed to the hospital, where, by what can only be deemed a miracle, doctors were able to revive her and bring her back to life."

At this time, Delara remains in critical condition and reportedly only weighs only 75 pounds. Her family and those close to her case are extremely worried about her health, both physically and emotionally.

People waging a fight against the Iranian government over the death sentence of the young woman like Lily Mazahery, say the silent screams of innocent girls like Delara must be acknowledged by each and every one of us.

"We MUST express our outrage, voice our anger, and show our support to those who can not speak for themselves. Anything less would be less than human."

She is asking people to express their outrage and stand up for the rights of this girl-child who can not stand up for herself by signing the petition to save Delera's life. That petition can be found here: petitiononline.com

Silence in this case Lily Mazahery says, will serve a bitter reinforcement of Delara's death sentence. Visit this site for more information: savedelara.com/subpage

or write to: info@savedelara.com

Thursday July 5, 2007, 7:47 am
Petition For Delara Darabi:
http://www.petitiononline.com/DL2222/petition.html

Contact Information For Rapid Response Urgent Advocacy !
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Supreme Leader: Ayatollah Khamenei

Tel:

+98 21 64412020

· The Head of Judiciary: Ayatollah Shahroudi

Tel:

+98-21 22741002
+98-21 22741003
+98-21 22741004
+98-21 22741005
· The President: Mr. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

Tel:

+98 21 88825071

+98 21 8882507 2

+98 21 8882507 3

+98 21 8882507 4

+98 21 8882507 5

If you have difficulty contacting the officials inside Iran, please contact the Iranian officials in your country of residence for some of whom the telephone and fax numbers are listed below.

· United States: Interests Section of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Washington, D.C.

Tel:

(202) 965-4990
(202) 965-4991
(202) 965-4992
(202) 965-4993
(202) 965-4994
(202) 965-4999
Fax:

(202) 965-1073
(202) 965-4990

· Canada: Embassy of Iran in Ottawa

Tel:

613 2354726

613 2325712

· United Kingdom: Embassy of Iran in London

Tel:

02072253000

Fax:

02075894440

· Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations in Switzerland, Geneva

Tel:

(41-22)332 21 00-21

Fax:

(41-22)733 02 03

· United Arab Emirates: Embassy of Iran in Abu Dhabi

Tel:

+9712-4447618
Fax:

+9712-4448714

· Denmark: Embassy of Iran in Copenhagen

Tel:

39160003

Fax:

39160075

· Norway: Embassy of Iran in Oslo

Tel:

(+47) 23 27 29 60

Fax:

(+47) 22 55 49 19

· Russia: Embassy of Iran in Moscow

Tel:

9178655, 9179679, 9175219, 9177282, 9170039, 9172442, 9178959

Fax:

2302897 , 9179683



· Finland, Embassy of Iran

Tel:

+358-9-6869 240

Fax:

+358-9-6869 2410

· South Africa, Embassy of Iran

Tel:

+27 (012) 342 58 80 / 1 –

Fax:

+27 (012) 342 18 78

· Germany, Embassy of Iran in Frankfurt

Tel:

+49 (0) 69 56 000 739 – 740
Fax:

+49 (0) 69 56 000 728

· India, Embassy of Iran in New Delhi

Tel:

+91-11-23329600/ 01/ 02

Fax:

+91-11-23325493

Say NO to the Execution of Women and Children!

www.SaveDelara.com

www.HelpReza.com

info@savedelara.com

Thursday July 5, 2007, 7:47 am
I pulled one thing from her (Amnesty's) news threads to add here:
----------------------------------------------------------We have opened new web pages for Reza and Delara and invite all who have supported these campaigns to join and be a friend to them.

Messages posted will be given to Delara and Reza and the pages are expanding daily.

The Children's web pages:

Reza:
http://www.myspace.com:80/savereza

Delara: http://www.myspace.com:80/delaradarabi

Meet them there.

Introduce yourself.

Tell them what you want them to know.

Please keep the messages positive and encouraging. Anything inappropriate will be promptly removed.

We are into the final stretch with these cases.

At this point, Delara has NOT been granted a proper trial that could prove her innocence.

She has been seriously ill and although a recent transfer has eased some of her suffering, both she and Reza are beyond despair.

Reza has not had the same public attention as Delara and it shows in the remarkably low number of signatures asking that his execution be stayed and that he be unconditionally released from prison. He is just a child !

How would you feel if you lived each moment knowing that the noose would be your fate and without any forewarning as to exactly what day your execution will take place ?

At present, there are more than 70 children that are on record as scheduled for execution in Iran. This only scratches the surface, as most children in prison, are being held without any documentation.

Due to international pressure to end all child executions and executions by stoning, the judiciary have moved to carrying out sentences in secret locations or within the prisons.

Family members are notified AFTER the execution has taken place.

Due to the nearness of the end of these cases, we opened pages for the children so that each person who wishes to send them a message, may do so.

The Children's web pages:

Reza:
http://www.myspace.com:80/savereza

Delara: http://www.myspace.com:80/delaradarabi

Meet them there.

Introduce yourself.

Tell them what you want them to know.

And do not say that you have signed the petition and that is all you intend to do.

We need you to do much more. Get this to absolutely everyone that you know, post banners for each child on your web page, write letters to every Iranian embassy and to the judiciary.

Get this news out into the network and NOTE IT while we still have time.

For further information contact info@savedelara.com

Amnesty Now
___________________________________________________________

Spirit Warrior

Thursday July 5, 2007, 8:09 am
we on care2 have been supporting delara for quite sometime
what is very interesting in this case is the total refusal of the iranian curt to budge even after thousands upon thousands country upon country support of delara. whY?

Thursday July 5, 2007, 8:18 am
good question, Nazanin was freed, alot due to the campaign by Nazanin here, pop star who helped. Also perhaps rising threats from the US, and more being revealed of their practices as these and stoning, maybe a backlash. Let's keep at it shall we, united.

Thursday July 5, 2007, 8:30 am
Amnesty Now could have answered your questions. As she has been banned I can only refer you to info@savedelara.com.

She said in her last news thread that a member of the legal team would respond to any questions.

All that I know from my reading, is that nothing has gone well for Delara or Reza.

I think all the protests have been responsible for keping them alive this long.

Not one effort is wasted.

So don't give up. Keep writing and demanding their release from prison.

Spirit Warrior

Thursday July 5, 2007, 8:39 pm
Thanks Spirit, and Sophia & Sunshine for your continued support. I'm sending this once again through the web in an attempt to gain more attention and have kept tabs with Amnesty which I'm a member. Its too bad that she has banned from one of the only things she has to keep her sanity. Another cruel punishment and one that Iran will pay for in the worlds eyes. WE'RE WATCHING YOU IRAN!!!

Thursday July 5, 2007, 9:48 pm
Prayers and perseverance on behalf of Delara whose beautiful Spirit will soar freely someday. The Iranian people should be ashamed to allow their government to imprison women who are innocent, and then to sentence them to an unspeakably cruel death! I will call the Iranian Embassy in Ottawa. Delara's petition as well as Reza and Malak's have also been signed. SOLIDARITY WILL SAVE DELARA !

Friday July 6, 2007, 12:23 am
Amnesty's answer to those who hijacked and arranged the deletion of her last thread will be posted here as it is relevant to the cases and reveals the height of the injustice done to her by Care2 management and their motley gang of trolls...some who have had the audacity to note this and even dare to comment.

Let this cause everyone to focus on only the children and understand why these cases grow more urgent each day as war is imminent.
________________________________________________________________________________________

Amnesty's Defense Of The Children:

"If you read the news item, it is clear that this is a statement issued from Amnesty International.

A link is also provided for anyone to read more about the cases I have requested petition support and letter writing for.

Why is that so difficult to understand ?

I am advocating for the lives of the children !

I advocate for all children.

In this particular thread, the topic is the urgent need for intervention on behalf of children scheduled for execution in Iran and Delara and Reza in particular.

I am not interested in war.

War and human rights are utterly incompatible !

To mention them both in one sentence is absurd beyond belief !

Killing children is wrong.

War is wrong.

That is all that can be said that is reasonable and true that is relevant to this thread.

Amnesty International is politically independent and neutral.

So am I.

I am not neutral in any case where anyone's human rights are being violated.

And what do you think will happen to the children if there is a war in Iran ?

All will be lost.

We can't let that happen.

Amnesty Now
________________________________________________________________________________________

As mentioned, the increasing tension in this region is making all human rights advocacy work that much harder.

Let us help all efforts to achieve amnesty for the children and not block what is being done here to gather support for a good cause.

Spirit Warrior.

http://www.care2.com/news/member/628399700/409836
http://www.care2.com/news/member/628399700/409840
http://www.care2.com/news/member/628399700/409851

All of the above links were submitted in the past few days and also need your support. Each item is related to these cases.

Friday July 6, 2007, 12:37 am
In answer to Rosemary and others who do not understand the internal workings of Iran, its people or culture, I will add a comment made on an earlier thread by my friend and one the best advocates these children have.

She was their only true advocate on Care2 and she paid dearly for her passion, integrity and dedication. As an Anthropologist and councelor to war affected children, she knew her work.

This is important because with war near, we have to be careful not to allow advocacy for children to turn into anything that is pro-war with Iran.

Indigo always spoke for peace. That is why she had so many enemies here.
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Quote and news thread link:

"I must tell you that what the government is doing is NOT representative of the majority of people in Iran.

I would say that less than 20% of Iranians share the views and beliefs of their leaders....in fact it is much the same as America in this.

They are highly educated people, sensitive, passionate, gentle, kind, caring, refined and many are not religious at all. Most who are, are liberal in their beliefs.

So we must remember not to generalize or stereotype.

That would be a very serious mistake.

Indigo"

http://www.care2.com/news/member/812748315/403163
_________________________________________________________________________________________
I think that states it best.

To review her wise contributions, visit all of her threads on the children. You will learn much.

Spirit Warrior

Friday July 6, 2007, 3:02 am
Dear all,
lets not get confused!

First of all, I hope you are not watching and pointing only Iran but all other countries where injustice happens. Of course many Iranians are ashamed of what happens in Iran but don't forget that they are all victims of fundamentalists. When the revolution was hijacked by religious fundamentalists in 1979, no one could even imagine this situation...
Anyway, in case of Delara, I am not a judge and don't know what is happened then exactly, but someone is murdered (fact) and that is a rich family memeber of Delara (fact) . That Delara & her boyfriend played both a rol in it, is doubtless. Who did what & which part? No one knows exactly, what is sure is that she knew about the murder plan and she let her boyfriend in the house of victim (also fact). So, she is not totally innocent!

BUT, she was then under age and surely manipulated by her boyfriend!
Personally, I support this campaign because I am against the death sentence and can't imagine that a sensible mind thinks up such a punishment for a child ! That is cruel and inhuman! Again, let us be fair in our judgements.

Friday July 6, 2007, 3:45 am
noted

Friday July 6, 2007, 5:11 am
noted

Friday July 6, 2007, 7:58 am
noted

Friday July 6, 2007, 11:38 am
I would wish the world not judge Americans by Bush/Cheney--and I don't judge Iran by their leaders. Signed & noted. I will carry a constant plea for Delara andall who suffer from inhumanity in my heart and pray for comfort, strength, healing and justice. May angels be with them!!

Friday July 6, 2007, 3:16 pm
Noted, and thanks for the information.
The death penalty should be banned in ALL countries, and even more so in the USA, who proclaims itself so humane. SAY NO TO DEATH PENALTY EVERYWHERE!

Friday July 6, 2007, 6:00 pm
To Vida M. Re: Your confusion about the case.

Here is the clarification taken from this thread to the very same question/confusion.
http://www.care2.com/news/member/232448770/404145
____________________________________________________________________________
Friday June 22, 2007, 5:22 pm
From Jacie Parsi

Thanks for your support and care. However, I must address something in your post: Delara had absolutely no prior knowledge of Amir-Hussain's intentions about Mahin. Amir-Hussain had told her that he had been informed that someone in town was trying to sign away the title to Mahin's house by fraud and without Mahin's knowledge, and that since he cared about her, he wanted to inform her of this matter!!! That is why Delara took him to Mahin's house that evening. In fact, those who are most closely familiar with the facts of Delara's case believe that Amir-Hussain became involved with Delara not because he cared about her in any way, but because he was using Delara to get to Mahin to begin with. I don't know about you, but when I was 17 and drowning in puppy love, the last thing I could possibly envision was that my beloved would be capable of any wrong-doing, including robbery! Delara was the same way. She did not know anything about Amir-Hussain's evil intentions. She is truly truly truly a victim and completely innocent.

You probably did read that it was a robbery! Even Delara's petition says that. That was the original information that was translated. However, after her case file was reviewed in Farsi, we realized that that was not really the case. Unfortunately, at that point, Mani Azizzadeh (a truly humanitarian young college student in Sweden) had already set up the petition and the service provider, petitiononline.com does not allow changes to be made to the text. It is true that Amir-Hussain fully intended to rob Mahin, and that is what he did. After he killed her, he filled his back-pack with jewels, money, etc. that he found in the house. He knew that Mahin was a wealthy woman. That was not a secret in the city of Rasht. He got close to Delara so he could use her to get into Mahin's home, which he eventually and unfortunately did.

What is important here is to realize that you are viewing, assessing, and analyzing this case with the knowledge and understanding of the laws HERE! You speak of prior bad acts and criminal record. Iran's current regime has no respect or care for any of the things that matter to our legal system, including prior bad acts. A so-called confession by a female is all they need under their version of the Islamic legal system. There is no benefit of the doubt. There is no guilty until proven innocent. As hard as it may be for us to undertand or even believe, the legal system there considers an accused or, especially, a "confessed" guilty. Period. The court may view so much overwhelming evidence that it might be shamed into saying that this person, despite her "confession," did not commit this crime. Unfortunately that has not been done in this case, which is the main problem as there is that much evidence.

To find more, please contact Ms. Lily Mazahery, the human rights lawyer who is leading the international effort to save Delara. She is a lawyer and an expert in both Western and Islamic laws. She knows Delara''s case file like the back of her hand and works closely with Delara's lawyer in Iran.Her general email is: LMazahery@gmail.com

Friday July 6, 2007, 6:02 pm
From the same thread:
______________________________________________________________________________
I wonder if anyone here knows about the policies regarding Amnesty International's assessment process that determines whether they will represent a case or not ?

There is an in depth and rigorous investigation of each potential case and if there is the slightest doubt as to its authenticity, they refuse to touch it.

Amnesty have advocated for Delara for many years and they continue to this day.

They are satisfied with their investigation and have publicly stated on every page related to Delara, that she is innocent of any crime.

Also remember that when this incident occurred, Delara was a child.

"The use of the death penalty against child offenders – people under 18 at the time of the crime – is clearly prohibited under international law."- from AI http://web.amnesty.org/pages/deathpenalty-children-eng

Try NOT to confuse issues.

It is complex enough as in Iran all are considered guilty until proven innocent !

Now that Delara's lawyer can incontavertibly prove her innocence in court, it is imperative that this trial be granted as it can only lead to her exhoneration.

V

Saturday July 7, 2007, 8:43 pm
Thank you for the info. on Delara. I haven't heard of her case yet, although I am a member of amnesty also. I'll look at their website and try and pass some info to others.

Perhaps, since we all belong to magical communities, we can pick a date, where we can all take some moments- whether alone or in circle, and send prayers to Delara for her healing, and prayers to those in control in Iran that they open their hearts, and give Delara the justice she is due.
Let's change the world- one quiet prayerful moment at a time. Anyone interested?
light and love to you all. ann

Saturday July 7, 2007, 9:58 pm
Here is an excerpt of a BBC documentary of the execution of Atefah, 15 years old.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgfK2NbJlg0
(a brief excerpt edited for all viewers)

An article related to the documentary is here:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/5217424.stm

SW

Saturday July 7, 2007, 9:59 pm
Ann the answer is yes and thank you.

Contact me.

Spirit Warrior

Sunday July 8, 2007, 12:12 pm
Sunshine has just submitted this news video re: The execution of Atefah. Please note it and view.

http://www.care2.com/news/member/956805373/418642

Spirit Warrior

Sunday July 8, 2007, 1:54 pm
This is absurd that this young person is set to die! Reza is innocent! A friend of the person who was killed admitted she is innocent! In self defense Reza was protecting herself.

Tuesday July 10, 2007, 11:10 pm
PEACE ACTION PETITION: NO WAR WITH IRAN !
_____________________________________________________________
SIGN HERE:
http://democracyinaction.org/dia/organizationsORG/Peaceact/petition.jsp?petition_KEY=358
_______________________________________________________________________
PETITION STATEMENT AND PREAMBLE:
No War with Iran!
President Bush is now regularly accusing Iran of supporting attacks on U.S. troops, without any evidence, - remember the WMD's in Iraq, anyone? - adding that "we will seek out and destroy" these networks. Bush has authorized U.S. forces to kill Iranian "operatives" in Iraq, and he is sending nuclear aircraft carriers and missile defense batteries to the Persian Gulf. The unthinkable - a wider war in the Middle East - is unfolding.
John D. Rockefeller IV, D-W.Va., chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said that any U.S. military move into Iran would be "catastrophically stupid" and "unleash a conflagration like we've never heard of before." We could not possibly agree more.

Resistance to a Bush planned military strike on Iran is growing in Congress, but it needs your help! Sign the petition to Congress below - No War with Iran! House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said recently that she would introduce legislation to stop such a strike, so our demand is beginning to get through. But the pressure needs to be much, much stronger to stop a President who has apparently gone mad with war and his own power.

Please know that your email address is for internal purposes only; we will not send it to the petition recipients nor share it with any other organization for any purpose. Thanks also for forwarding this to your friends, colleagues and listserves. We need everyone who wants to bring peace to the Middle East and prevent a war with Iran to join the effort now!
____________________________________________________________
STATEMENT FOR ALL TO SIGN...FROM ALL COUNTRIES !

To: Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
cc: Chairs of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and House Committee on International Relations


We, the undersigned, vehemently oppose any U.S. military action against Iran. Such military action would inevitably kill large numbers of innocent people, foster even more hatred and international condemnation of the U.S., and dramatically increase the instability of the region. Our own intelligence agencies have concluded the Iraq war has worsened the terrorist threat, and a war against Iran would add immeasurably more fuel to the fire.

Even if Iran decided to build a nuclear weapon, experts agree that it would take several years. There is no crisis, and our government should not create one with inflammatory rhetoric or military threats. The U.S. has both the time and obligation to work with the international community to fashion a diplomatic resolution to the situation, and the current refusal of U.S. officials to talk directly with Iranian officials cannot possibly help resolve the nuclear standoff, nor contribute to peace in Iraq and the Middle East.

Therefore, we urge you to take all steps necessary to reach a peaceful resolution to the current situation, including direct negotiations without pre-conditions. This is the only way to prevent yet another war, one that would be a calamity of truly global proportions.

PLEASE SIGN.

Spirit Warrior

Tuesday July 10, 2007, 11:11 pm
To aid all advocacy efforts please sign this petition for peace so we have time to reach all those in need.

SW