Within Two Hours of this Press Release a Teenager in Iran is Scheduled to be Executed

Within Two Hours of this Press Release a Teenager in Iran is Scheduled to be Executed

LONDON, July 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Bodog Music recording artist and world renowned humanitarian Nazanin Afshin-Jam has just received word and is desperately working to save the teenager, Sina Paymard, who will be executed by hanging in Iran within the next couple of hours.

Nazanin Afshin-Jam, human rights activist with the Stop Child Executions Campaign, singer/songwriter, and former Miss Canada is trying to appeal to world leaders and the international community to grant a stay of execution for this boy.

According to Nasrin Sotoudeh, Sina Paymard's lawyer, he has been taken from Reja'i Shahr prison to Evin prison to be executed. His execution order has been apparently signed by Head of the Judiciary, Ayatollah Shahroudi. She said that the execution could be carried out within hours. Sina Paymard's family has managed to raise 70 million of the 150 million "diyeh" (blood money), which his victim's family will not accept.

Nazanin Afshin-Jam has asked help from the Human Rights desk at the United Nations, the Foreign Affairs Minister of Canada, Peter Mackay, and the International Committee against Execution, and is working alongside Amnesty International to see through that Iran abides by International Human Rights Law and does not carry out the execution.

Nazanin encourages individuals to go to http://www.stopchildexecutions.com/ to learn how to immediately help Sina Paymard who is in this imminent situation, as well as helping the 71 other minors who are currently on death row in Iran.

Iran is the only country in the world that continues to officially execute minors despite being a state party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Charter of the Rights of the Child.

Here is the statement written by the European Union regarding Sina Paymard:

   Statement on the death sentence of Sina Paymard   Date: 2007-07-17   

The EU is deeply concerned by the news of the imminent execution of Sina Paymard, who was convicted and sentenced to death by a judge of the Teheran court for a crime perpetrated while he was a minor. The execution is scheduled for tonight.

The EU appeals to the Iranian authorities not to execute Sina Paymard. The Islamic Republic of Iran is a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Both these international binding texts clearly prohibit the execution of minors or people who have been convicted of crimes committed while they were minors. Moreover, according to the Civil Code of the Islamic Republic of Iran, in its article 9, the international legal texts mentioned above should prevail, as they are as valid as the Civil Code.

   For more information, contact: info@nazanin.ca    About Bodog Music  

BodogMusic.com is a division of the international digital entertainment giant, Bodog Entertainment. With six offices worldwide, the label features a diverse and growing roster of talented musicians. Bodog Music is searching for the top unsigned band in America with "Bodog Battle," which is taking place in 17 major markets and features more than 300 live shows. Bodog Music Founder Calvin Ayre, who is recognized as a world authority on branding in the digital entertainment industry, was spotlighted on the cover of Forbes magazine's best-selling "Billionaires" issue in March 2006. Bodog Entertainment also includes: an international television production division, which produces television series, such as Bodog Fight (BodogFight.com) and Calvin Ayre Wild Card Poker (Bodog.TV); a publishing division (with an online magazine, BodogNation.com, and blog, BodogBeat.com); and an events department renowned for producing parties that are stunning, chic and celebrity-filled. For more information, contact publicity@bodogmusic.com. BODOG is a registered trademark of Bodog Entertainment Group.

Source: Bodog Music

CONTACT: Bodog Music, +1-866-591-0217, publicity@bodogmusic.com

Web site: http://www.bodogmusic.com/

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Profile: International Entertainment