The Execution of Jafar Kiani

The Meydaan organisation has reported that Jafar Kiani was executed on the 6 July 2007 in Iran. They also reported that Dr. Alireza Jamshidi, the Iranian judiciary spokesman, gave a press conference on Tuesday 10 July 2007, in which he reputedly said, "Lately there has been a stoning sentence executed by a judge in Takistan branch," contrary to the existing moratorium on stoning but "the woman’s [Mokarrameh Ebrahimi] sentence is stayed now." Adding, "The extent to which the ban order can deprive a judge from independence is a long discussion, but a judge can act independently, although with the order of the Head of Judiciary, it is necessary to exercise more caution in issuing and executing these sentences."

However, this press conference does not appear to have taken place; it was not reported by either the Iranian or attended by anyone from the international media. In fact, contrary to the Maydaan assertion, the Iranian government has not confirmed the execution of Jafar Kiani, as is clear from UN rapporteur on Human Rights, Louise Arbour's statement, she in fact requests official confirmation from Iran that this event occurred.

How therefore did a Western based organisation attend a press briefing and no one else appears to?

This is not to say this execution did no take place: it may very well have done. However, if this is the case, far from the Iranian State executing this man; it is a local judge in defiance of the order of the Head of the Judiciary. Thus the Iranian State would have been powerless to prevent this and not culpabale nor indeed is stoning an offence against international law.

So what is the haste in the Western media's reporting of this incident? In the absence of facts they are bereft. Until such time as the Iranian government provides a detail account; all claims are mere conjecture and rumour. It is noteworthy that previous reports of executions by U.S. sponsored groups have transpired to be factually inaccruate.

Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have never accruately reported an Iranian execution since 2005. Yet when the Western media quote these organisations' claims; this is never stated. This is dishonest reporting.