Inside Story: Ban Ki-moon Announces His Candidacy for Second Five-year Term for the Post of UN Secretary General

Ban Criticises Executions in Iran
BBC: UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has criticised Iran for what he says is an upsurge in executions in the country.

Iranian authorities say the executions are needed to fight drug trafficking.

Mr Ban welcomed a call from the head of Iran's judiciary to suspend the execution of children, but noted that the practice was still continuing.

The secretary general also used a new UN report on human rights in Iran to highlight the treatment of women, religious minorities and homosexuals.

Iran's deputy prosecutor general, Hossein Zebhi, has suggested that judges should stop imposing the death penalty on young offenders.

However on Monday, Mr Zebhi said that under Sharia law only a victim's family could commute a death sentence for murder.

At least six youths aged under 18 have been executed in Iran this year alone. >>> | October 21, 2008

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