Iran Executing Men Falsely Accused of Homosexuality

The world should start to learn the name Ebrahim Hamidi. He's an 18-year-old man who is scheduled to be killed in Iran by state authorities because they think he's gay, and being gay in Iran will earn you a death sentence. But up until recently, his case has managed to float under the radar, even though his fate very much lies in the hands of an international community raising some hell.

Hamidi's case has quite a few twists and turns. In 2008, Hamidi was detained by Iranian authorities along with three other boys. They were accused of sexual assault, and were abruptly tortured and beaten. In order to stop the abuse, Hamidi signed a confession that he had engaged in what state authorities deemed "homosexual relations." He was subsequently told he would be executed -- hung by state authorities.

Iran has scheduled many other LGBT people to die over the course of the past few decades, and generally speaking, they don't fool around. Witness in 2005, when two male teenagers were hung, accused of being gay. That they've promised to execute Hamidi should be seen as a very real threat.

Beyond just the normal human rights outrage at the thought of executing someone over their perceived sexual orientation, Hamidi's case gets even more complex. See, the person who originally accused Hamidi and the other boys of sexual assault? He recanted the accusation, and said it wasn't true. And then allegations came forward that suggested Hamidi only signed a confession after being pressured. And then the Iranian Supreme Court ordered that Hamidi's case be re-opened, and a new case launched.

Yet despite all of that, Iranian authorities could kill Hamidi at a moment's notice. And that's why activists are starting to call for global outrage to make sure this doesn't happen. Won't you take a minute to email Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and urge her to condemn the possible execution of Hamidi and do whatever she can to help stop it?

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Adding yet another layer of frustration in this case is that Hamidi's lawyer, Mohammad Mostafaei, has been forced to flee Iran after threats on his life. Mostafaei is also the attorney for Sakineh Ashtiani, an Iranian woman scheduled to be stoned to death for adultery. Ashtiani's case has attracted worldwide attention, and as a result, hits went out on Mostafaei's life. He's now in Turkey, it seems, under the protection of European diplomats.

That means that Hamidi has no legal representation. As UK activist Peter Tatchell notes, all of this combined shows that Iran's legal system is an absolute and utter failure.

“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,” Tatchell said. He added a plea for the international community to call on their respective governments to help stop this execution. “Wherever you live, get your MP/Congressperson/Deputy and Foreign Minister to lobby the Iranian Chief Justice."

That's why it's time to put pressure on the U.S. State Department, and urge them to do whatever they can to lobby for a hold on Ebrahim Hamidi's execution. This is a man who by all accounts is innocent, who had his original accusations withdrawn, and who even has the backing of the Iranian Supreme Court for a new trial. Can the international community sit by while Iranian thugs move forward with plans to hang him?

Photo credit: _skender_

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