Take Action! Urge Iran to Condemn Religious Ruling to Kill Iranian Rapper

Background

A death ruling has been issued for Iranian rapper Shahin Najafi by grand ayatollahs Safi Golpaygani and Naser Makarem Shirazi in response to Najafi’s song “Naghi” – the name of Shi’ite Islam’s 10th imam. Conservative clerics and Shia websites have called for Najafi’s killing, even offering a $100,000 reward for carrying it out. Najafi, 31, a popular Iranian musician who resides in Germany, has told reporters that he fears for his life. The issuing of fatwas by Iranian clerics has in the past yielded deadly results.

Under current laws in Iran, being labeled an “apostate” is punishable by death by the judiciary. Iranian religious leaders also issue fatwas outside the legal parameters of the law. Article 6 and Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which Iran is a state party, protect the right to life and freedom of expression. These international legal provisions obligate the Government of Iran to ensure that individuals within its territory do not incite murder with impunity.

Read a United for Iran statement calling for the Iranian government to condemn the cleric-issued fatwa, reform its penal code to remove the death penalty for those labeled “apostates,” and to institute provisions that outlaw incitement to murder, including in fatwas issued by clerics: link

Directions

The letter is below. If you choose to add a personal message, please keep it polite, human-rights focused, and without rhetoric. To the right of the letter are the various recipients. If you have any questions, feel free to e-mail us at info@united4iran.org

Subject:

Your Letter:

Your Excellency,

I am writing to express deep concern about the issuing of a death sentence for rapper Shahin Najafi by Iranian grand ayatollahs Safi Golpaygani and Makarem Shirazi in response to Najafi’s song “Naghi.” I am very concerned for Najafi’s safety. I strongly urge the Iranian government to condemn the fatwa, to reform its penal code to remove the death penalty for those labeled “apostates,” and ensure individuals that incite murder, including religious leaders, do not enjoy impunity.

The issuing of fatwas by Iranian clerics has in the past yielded deadly results. Last year Azerbaijani journalist Rafiq Tagi was stabbed to death in a killing suspected to be an individual carrying out a fatwa issued by Grand Ayatollah Fazel Lankarani. In 1989, a fatwa issued by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini against British writer Salman Rushdie led to at least one assassination attempt, resulting in the death of the bomber. Today, Najafi is hiding in fear for his life in Germany.

Under current laws in Iran, being labeled an “apostate” is punishable by death by the judiciary, in contradiction to international law. Iranian religious leaders have from time to time issued fatwas outside the legal parameters of the law, which are interpreted as death rulings intended to be carried out by their followers. Article 6 and Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which Iran is a state party, protect the right to life and freedom of expression. These international legal provisions obligate the Government of Iran to ensure that individuals within its territory do not incite murder with impunity.

I strongly urge the Islamic Republic of Iran to outlaw the issuing of death rulings by religious leaders. I also ask the Iranian government to abide by international human rights standards and bring all of its citizens, including clerics, under a legal framework that upholds and protects fundamental human rights.

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

President

Ayatollah Sadegh Larijani

Head of the Judiciary

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