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AFGHANISTAN. PAPER FEARS CHILD DRUG SMUGGLERS FACE HANGING IN IRAN
October 4, 2007: 16 Afghan children were arrested by Iranian border forces on the Islam Qala-Taibad border a couple of years ago on charges of trafficking drugs (cyrstal) from Ghowrian District of Herat Province.
According to Iranian law, drug traffickers and especially those who smuggle crystal face death by hanging. According to international laws and the laws of the Islamic Republic of Iran, minors cannot be hanged or sentenced to life imprisonment.
Officials of the independent Human Rights Commission (HRC) in Herat Province claimed Iran is seeking ways to hang these 16 Afghan children, who have been imprisoned for several years now. Child support officer of the western zone HRC, Mr Akid, said, "Under Iranian law, the government of Iran cannot sentence persons under the age of 18 to life imprisonment or death.
However, if an Afghan child who will be 18 in four years' time is arrested in Iran, he is kept in detention with no clear fate in sight. They file charges when he reaches his legal age so that they can hang him in accordance with the laws of their country. It is reported 10 Afghan children prisoners in Iran have either reached the age of 18 or will be 18 this year. (Sources: BBC, 04/10/2007)
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