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			{{Short description\|Executed Iranian citizen}}
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			{{Infobox criminal
	'''Atefeh Rajabi Sahaaleh''' (] - ], ]) was a 16-year-old schoolgirl who was ] in ] after being ] by an Iranian religious judge, Haji Rezai, for having committed "acts incompatible with chastity" according to Sharia law. The execution is controversial because of judicial error{{fact}}, where the age of the girl was reported in court documents to be 22 years, while it was in fact 16. It was her fourth conviction, but despite these aggravating circumstances, it is believed that she would not been eligible for execution at the age of 16.
			\| name = Atefeh Rajabi Sahaaleh<br />{{nobold\|{{lang\|fa\|عاطفه رجبی سهاله}}}}
		⚫	\| image_name = Atefeh Sahaaleh.jpg
			\| birth_date = September 21, 1987
			\| birth_place = ], ]
			\| death_date = August 15, 2004 (aged 16)
			\| death_place = Neka, Iran
			\| conviction = ] and ]
			\| conviction_penalty = Death by hanging
			\| conviction_status = Pardoned after execution
			}}
			'''Atefeh Rajabi Sahaaleh''' ({{langx\|fa\|عاطفه رجبی سهاله}}; September 21, 1987 – August 15, 2004) was an Iranian girl from the town of ] who was ] a week after being ] by Haji Rezai, head of Neka's court, on charges of ] and ] after being repeatedly raped.

			==Early life==
	She addmitted illicit affair with a 51 year old male, which lasted three years and involved sex out of wedlock.] She was also allegedly raped throughout her childhood <ref> Iran Focus</ref> and has been characterized as a ] for her stance in asserting that rapists, rather than rape victims, should be punished for rape.{{fact}} She was publicly executed.
			Atefeh was born in Neka, and her family moved to ] shortly after her birth. When she was a young girl, her parents separated and her mother remarried. Her mother died in a car accident when Atefeh was five years old. Around that same time, her younger brother is said to have drowned in a river. Her father became a drug addict, and she was forced to care for her ] grandparents. Despite her attention to their needs they are reported to have largely ignored her.<ref name=iranRights>{{cite web \|url=https://www.iranrights.org/fa/memorial/story/-3134/atefeh-sahaleh-rajabi \|script-title=fa:عاطفه سهاله رجبی \|trans-title=Atefeh Sohaleh Rajabi \|lang=fa \|work=بنیاد عبدالرحمن برومن \|trans-work=Abdul Rahman Broman Foundation}}</ref> She was described as a "lively and intelligent girl."<ref name=salem>{{Cite web \|last=Kennedy \|first=Theresa Griffin \|date=2013-01-12 \|title=We Must Never Forget Atefeh of Iran: 'The Gypsy of Neka' \|url=http://www.salem-news.com/articles/january122013/atefeh-gypsy-tg.php \|access-date=2024-06-15 \|website=Salem News \|language=en}}</ref>

	== ~~Early life~~ ==		==Arrests==
			Atefeh was convicted of ] when she was 13 years old. Following a police raid, she was discovered alone in a car with a boy. She was jailed and given ]. While in prison, she was further allegedly tortured and raped by prison guards. She told her grandmother that she could only walk on all fours because of the pain.<ref name=guardian>{{cite news \| url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2006/jul/27/iran.broadcasting \| location=London \| work=The Guardian \| title=Death of a teenager \|first=Monica \|last=Garnsey \|date=2006-07-28 \| access-date=2016-12-14 \| archive-date=2013-06-23 \| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130623025552/http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2006/jul/27/iran.broadcasting \| url-status=live }}</ref> In the following years, she was arrested twice more for crimes against chastity, and both convictions were punished by flogging and jail time.<ref name=amnestyIran>{{cite web \|url=https://www.amnestyusa.org/reports/iran-the-last-executioner-of-children/ \|title=Iran: The last executioner of children \|work=Amnesty International \|date=2011-03-26}}</ref>

			In May 2003, Atefeh was arrested at home and charged with adultery and immorality. Authorities presented a report which they claimed supported the charges against Atefeh, but the only signatures on the report were police officers and other local authorities.<ref name=iranRights/><ref name=amnestyIran/>
	Atefeh's mother died in a car accident when she was five. Her father became a drug addict and she was forced to care for her octogenerian grandparents. Despite her attending to their needs they are reported to have completely ignored her. She grew up in the town of ], ] and was described as a "lively and intelligent girl", who everyone knew, and was often seen wandering free on streets.{{fact}} She was called "gypsy of Neka" by the locals, as she was not restrained in her behaviour, having no parental guidance.{{fact}}

			The judge presiding over the trial was Haji Rezai. After Rezai interrogated Atefeh, she confessed to having sex with Ali Darabi, a married 51-year-old ex-] turned taxi driver. Atefeh was raped repeatedly by Darabi over the previous three years.<ref name=bbcNews>{{cite web \|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/5217424.stm \|title=Programmes {{!}} Execution of a teenage girl \|publisher=BBC News \|date=2006-07-27 \|accessdate=2012-06-08 \|archive-date=2018-09-29 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180929154640/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/5217424.stm \|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=docuPart3>{{cite AV media \|last=Garnsey \|first=Monica (producer) \|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYMNiSnlz_w \|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/UYMNiSnlz_w \|archive-date=2021-12-21 \|url-status=live \|title=Execution of a Teenage Girl \|work=Wild Pictures \|publisher=BBC \|publication-date=2006-08-14 \|orig-date=2006-07-27 \|accessdate=2012-06-08 \|section=Part 3 of 6 \|via=Youtube}}{{cbignore}}</ref> When Atefeh realized that she was losing her case, she removed her ], an act seen as a severe contempt of the court, and argued that Darabi should be punished, not her. She even removed her shoes and threw them at the judge.<ref name=docuPart4>{{cite AV media \|last=Garnsey \|first=Monica (producer) \|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0joZr2LlLo \|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/r0joZr2LlLo \|archive-date=2021-12-21 \|url-status=live \|title=Execution of a Teenage Girl \|work=Wild Pictures \|publisher=BBC \|date=2006-08-14 \|orig-date=2006-07-27 \|accessdate=2012-06-08 \|section=Part 4 of 6 \|via=Youtube}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Rezai sentenced Atefeh to death. Her lawyer appealed to Iran's Supreme Court in ], where the verdict was upheld due to Atefeh's confession and three prior convictions for similar offenses.<ref name=iranRights/><ref name=amnestyIran/>
	She was arrested three times by the ] and convicted for having sex with unmarried men.{{fact}} It is illegal in Iran for a boy and girl even to meet without an adult. On each occasion she was jailed and given 100 lashes. The punishment for sex with married men is far more severe. She has also privately alleged being repeatedly raped by members of the Police during and after the custody.

			According to the ], the documents presented to the Supreme Court of Appeal described her as 22 years old, but her birth certificate and death certificate stated that she was 16. A witness stated that "the judge just looked at body, because of the developed physique ... and declared her as 22," and her father alleges that "neither the judge nor even Atefeh's court appointed lawyer did anything to find out her true age."<ref name=bbcNews/>
	== Affair with a 51 year old man ==

		⚫	==Execution==
	She was having an affair with a married man, which lasted over 3 years.{{fact}} During this period, she hid the relationship from everyone.{{fact}} Since the age of consent in Iran is 9 years, this was not a rape, as sometimes alleged.{{fact}} However, sex outside of weadlock is a crime against chastity. Atefeh was arrested for the fourth time
			She was publicly ] from a ] in Neka on August 15, 2004.<ref name=salem/>
	and under alleged torture admitted the affair, for which she was convicted, as repeat offender, to death penalty.

			Atefeh's execution is considered controversial because, as a signatory of the ], Iran promised not to execute anyone under the age of 18.<ref name=bbcNews/> According to a 2004 press release issued by ], Atefeh was the tenth minor Iran had executed since 1990. They declared her execution to be a crime against humanity and against children of the world.<ref name=amnestyPress>{{cite press release \|url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/document/?indexNumber=mde13%2f036%2f2004&language=en \|title=Iran: Amnesty International outraged at reported execution of a 16 year old girl \|website=Amnesty International \|access-date=2019-06-21 \|archive-date=2019-12-07 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191207023515/https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/document/?indexNumber=mde13%2f036%2f2004&language=en \|url-status=live \|date=2004-08-22}}</ref>

			After the execution of Atefeh, Iranian media reported that Judge Rezai and several militia members, including Captain Zabihi and Captain Molai, were arrested by the Intelligence Ministry.<ref name=salem/>{{better source\|date=June 2024\|reason=The current source vaguely discusses Iranian media reports, but offers insufficient concrete details so as to locate any of these reports and cite them directly}} Pursuant to continual complaints filed by Atefeh's family, and heavy international pressure about her execution and the way the judge mishandled the case, the ] issued an order to posthumously pardon Atefeh.{{cn\|date=June 2024}}
	== Arrest ==

			==Documentaries==
	On the day she was due to attend a wedding, the ] arrested her as she was preparing dinner for her grandparents. As she had not committed an offense, a petition was presented declaring her a "bad influence". It was not signed.
			Atefeh's story was the subject of a BBC documentary produced by Wild Pictures in 2006. Monica Garnsey and Arash Sahami went undercover to document the case.<ref name=bbcNews/> It was also the subject of an hour-long ] program called ''Execution in Iran.''{{cn\|date=June 2024\|reason=Sources can verify the documentary exists, but not that it's about Atefeh}}

	She was convicted for ‘crimes against chastity’, based on her admission that she had repeatedly had sex with a 51-year-old ex-revolutionary guard turned taxi-driver '''Ali Darabi''', a married man with children.{{fact}} In the court the judge was ]. As Atefeh realised she was losing her case, she removed her ], an act seen as a severe contempt of the court, and argued that Ali Darabi should be punished, not the her. She even removed her shoes and hit the judge with them.{{fact}} The judge later sentenced her to death.

	Atefeh appealed her conviction. Her family could still not afford a lawyer, and none was provided, in contravention of Iranian law. Although such appeals are usually not resolved within a year, her ] was upheld by a Supreme Court of conservative ]s. Haji Rezai, the religious judge, was reportedly so incensed with Atefeh’s "sharp tongue" during the trial that he travelled to Tehran personally to convince the mullahs of the Supreme Court to uphold the death sentence. According to the BBC, the documents presented to the Supreme Court of Appeal described her as a 22-year-old, but her birth certificate and death certificate stated that she was 16. The issue of her age was not brought to proper attention before it was too late. Apparently, the judge arbitrarily put the incorrect age which he estimated based on Atefeh's appearance.

	] and a number of other organisations have reported that she suffered from psychological illness, both before and at the trial.

⚫	== Execution ==

	She was publicly ] from a ] in ], ], on ], ] . The judge in her case, Haji Rezai, also acted as executioner and applied the ] himself. She was left hanging for 45 minutes. He later boasted that she had been "taught a lesson" for her "sharp tongue". Her father was not notified of her execution. They never said goodbye.

	The next day her body was stolen from her grave. It has never been recovered.

	] and many other human rights organizations from the international community declared her killing to be a crime against humanity and against children of the world.<ref></ref>

	== BBC Undercover - "Execution of a Teenage Girl" ==

	The case of Atefeh Sahaaleh is the subject of a BBC documentary made by Wild Pictures. Director, ] and Associate Producer, ] went undercover to document the case.<ref>{{cite news\|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/5217424.stm\|title=Execution of a Teenage Girl\|date=]\|accessdate=2006-07-27\|publisher=]}}</ref> It is also the subject of an hour-long ] program called "Execution in Iran."

	==See also==		==See also==

	* ]		* ]
	* ]		* ]
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	* ]		* ]
			* ]

			* ]
	==External links==
	{{nofootnotes}}
	* BBC
	* BBC Documentary Video
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	*
	*
	*
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	==References==		==References==
			{{reflist}}
	<div class="references-small"><references /></div>

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Latest revision as of 18:58, 19 December 2024

Executed Iranian citizen

Atefeh Rajabi Sahaaleh عاطفه رجبی سهاله

Born	September 21, 1987 Neka, Iran
Died	August 15, 2004 (aged 16) Neka, Iran
Criminal status	Pardoned after execution

Conviction(s)	Adultery and crimes against chastity
Criminal penalty	Death by hanging

Atefeh Rajabi Sahaaleh (Persian: عاطفه رجبی سهاله; September 21, 1987 – August 15, 2004) was an Iranian girl from the town of Neka who was executed a week after being sentenced to death by Haji Rezai, head of Neka's court, on charges of adultery and crimes against chastity after being repeatedly raped.

Early life

Atefeh was born in Neka, and her family moved to Mashhad shortly after her birth. When she was a young girl, her parents separated and her mother remarried. Her mother died in a car accident when Atefeh was five years old. Around that same time, her younger brother is said to have drowned in a river. Her father became a drug addict, and she was forced to care for her octogenerian grandparents. Despite her attention to their needs they are reported to have largely ignored her. She was described as a "lively and intelligent girl."

Arrests

Atefeh was convicted of crimes against chastity when she was 13 years old. Following a police raid, she was discovered alone in a car with a boy. She was jailed and given 100 lashes. While in prison, she was further allegedly tortured and raped by prison guards. She told her grandmother that she could only walk on all fours because of the pain. In the following years, she was arrested twice more for crimes against chastity, and both convictions were punished by flogging and jail time.

In May 2003, Atefeh was arrested at home and charged with adultery and immorality. Authorities presented a report which they claimed supported the charges against Atefeh, but the only signatures on the report were police officers and other local authorities.

The judge presiding over the trial was Haji Rezai. After Rezai interrogated Atefeh, she confessed to having sex with Ali Darabi, a married 51-year-old ex-revolutionary guard turned taxi driver. Atefeh was raped repeatedly by Darabi over the previous three years. When Atefeh realized that she was losing her case, she removed her hijab, an act seen as a severe contempt of the court, and argued that Darabi should be punished, not her. She even removed her shoes and threw them at the judge. Rezai sentenced Atefeh to death. Her lawyer appealed to Iran's Supreme Court in Tehran, where the verdict was upheld due to Atefeh's confession and three prior convictions for similar offenses.

According to the BBC, the documents presented to the Supreme Court of Appeal described her as 22 years old, but her birth certificate and death certificate stated that she was 16. A witness stated that "the judge just looked at body, because of the developed physique ... and declared her as 22," and her father alleges that "neither the judge nor even Atefeh's court appointed lawyer did anything to find out her true age."

Execution

She was publicly hanged from a crane in Neka on August 15, 2004.

Atefeh's execution is considered controversial because, as a signatory of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Iran promised not to execute anyone under the age of 18. According to a 2004 press release issued by Amnesty International, Atefeh was the tenth minor Iran had executed since 1990. They declared her execution to be a crime against humanity and against children of the world.

After the execution of Atefeh, Iranian media reported that Judge Rezai and several militia members, including Captain Zabihi and Captain Molai, were arrested by the Intelligence Ministry. Pursuant to continual complaints filed by Atefeh's family, and heavy international pressure about her execution and the way the judge mishandled the case, the Supreme Court of Iran issued an order to posthumously pardon Atefeh.

Documentaries

Atefeh's story was the subject of a BBC documentary produced by Wild Pictures in 2006. Monica Garnsey and Arash Sahami went undercover to document the case. It was also the subject of an hour-long Discovery Times program called Execution in Iran.

References

^ عاطفه سهاله رجبی [Atefeh Sohaleh Rajabi]. بنیاد عبدالرحمن برومن [Abdul Rahman Broman Foundation] (in Persian).
^ Kennedy, Theresa Griffin (2013-01-12). "We Must Never Forget Atefeh of Iran: 'The Gypsy of Neka'". Salem News. Retrieved 2024-06-15.
Garnsey, Monica (2006-07-28). "Death of a teenager". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 2013-06-23. Retrieved 2016-12-14.
^ "Iran: The last executioner of children". Amnesty International. 2011-03-26.
^ "Programmes | Execution of a teenage girl". BBC News. 2006-07-27. Archived from the original on 2018-09-29. Retrieved 2012-06-08.
Garnsey, Monica (producer) (2006-08-14) . "Part 3 of 6". Execution of a Teenage Girl. Wild Pictures. BBC. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved 2012-06-08 – via Youtube.
Garnsey, Monica (producer) (2006-08-14) . "Part 4 of 6". Execution of a Teenage Girl. Wild Pictures. BBC. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved 2012-06-08 – via Youtube.
"Iran: Amnesty International outraged at reported execution of a 16 year old girl". Amnesty International (Press release). 2004-08-22. Archived from the original on 2019-12-07. Retrieved 2019-06-21.

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