TDs condemn execution of Iranian teenagers

Blindfolded Mahmoud Asgari (16), left, and another unidentified teenager are set to be publicly hanged, in Mashhad, Iran on …

Blindfolded Mahmoud Asgari (16), left, and another unidentified teenager are set to be publicly hanged, in Mashhad, Iran on July 19th

Protests have been taking place in Dublin and four other cities over the torture and execution of two gay teenagers by authorities in Iran.

Dublin as well as San Francisco, London, Paris and Montpelier heard protesters condemn the deaths. In Dublin a protest was due to take place outside the Iranian embassy at 6.30pm

Amnesty International members and TDs Joe Costello and Finian McGrath called for the death penalty to be abolished in the Middle Eastern country.

The two teenagers were publicly hanged in the north-eastern city of Mashhad on July 19th. They were convicted of sexual assault on a 13-year-old boy and had been in police custody for 14 months.

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Mr Costello, Labour's justice spokesman, said: "What has happened in this case is a massive infringement of the human rights of these teenagers and it must be condemned.

"Any prejudice against members of the gay community is unacceptable," Mr McGrath added.