8 November, 2009

LGBT Labour has joined calls for Iran to halt the planned execution of three Iranian men accused of having gay sex when they were under 18.

The three men, Mehdi P., Moshen G., and Nemat Safavi, are on death row in Iran, where consummated sexual activity between men is punishable by death. No date has been set for the executions but the men's lawyers believe it may be imminent.

Richard Angell, LGBT Labour Secretary, said:

"It is morally abhorrent to execute these men - not just because they are being killed for allegedly having gay sex, but also because they are being killed for what they did when they were under 18. These cruelest of punishments flout all senses of natural justice and fundamental human rights."

ENDS

Full details can be found on Human Rights Watch's website at

http://www.hrw. org/en/news/ 2009/11/03/ iran-revoke- death-sentences- juvenile- offenders

For further comment call James on 0793 907 3845