Iranian sentenced to death by hanging for alleged homosexual relations.

Dan Littauer, Gay Middle East Editor

9.7.2010

Freedom and Democracy for Iran, a facebook group, posted a story that was said to be broadcasted by Radio Zamaneh, an Iranian station broadcasting from Amsterdam.  According to the group, an Iranian youth in Tabriz, Ebraim Hamidi, has been sentenced to death by hanging for the charge of having homosexual relations.

According to the attorney of Ebraim, Mohammad Mostafai, three other people (Hamid Taghi, Mehdi Pouran and Mohammad Rezai) were also accused of homosexual relations but were acquitted.   Mosatafai also remarked that the acquittal was due to an appeal to the Supreme Court of Iran,  which upheld Ebrahim Hamidi’s death sentence. 

We have contacted Amnesty International on this matter.   According to Wikepeadia, Amnesty International reported that in 2009 over 388 people were executed in Iran.  Wikepeadia also documents that the Boroumand Foundation records at least 107 executions with charges related to homosexuality between 1979 and 1990.

Gay Middle East is currently investigating this story further.

Link to Freedom and Democracy for Iran

Link for Radio Zamaneh

Link to Wikepeadia