An 18-year-old Iranian is facing execution on charges of homosexuality, despite not being gay and having no legal representation. Ebrahim Hamidi has been was sentenced to death for 'lavat' or sodomy, on the basis of 'judge's knowledge', a legal loophole that allows for subjective judicial rulings where there is no conclusive evidence, The Guardian reports. He was being represented by human rights lawyer Mohammad Mostafaei, who has fled the country after he publicised the case of a female client who has been sentenced to death by stoning for adultery. British human rights activist Peter Tatchell has written to foreign secretary William Hague to encourage to push for the teenager's execution to be stopped. "Ebrahim's case is evidence that innocent heterosexual people can be sentenced to death on false charges of homosexuality (in Iran)," he said. Hamidi was arrested after a fight with another family and accused of a 'homosexual assault' on a man. He confessed to the crime after three days in detention, allegedly under torture. The teenager's alleged victim has even admitted his parents pressured him to make false accusations.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Monday, 9th August 2010 - 11:05am