Iran execution of teenagers condemned

Online.ie:

2005-08-11

The torture and execution of two teenagers by authorities in Iran was today condemned by Irish TDs.Amnesty International members Joe Costello and Finian McGrath called for the death penalty to be abolished in the Middle Eastern country.

Two teenagers were publicly hanged in the north-eastern city of Mashhad on July 19.They were convicted of sexual assault on a 13-year-old boy and had been in police custody for 14 months.Mr Costello, Labour's justice spokesman, said: "What has happened in this case is a massive infringement of the human rights of these teenagers and it must be condemned.

Mr McGrath added: "Any prejudice against members of the gay community is unacceptable."Members of Amnesty International are holding a demonstration on the issue outside the Iranian Embassy in Dublin later today.