Web mobilises to save condemned Iranian teen

A campaign led by former Miss Canada and Miss World runner-up Nazanin Afshin-Jam aimed at saving the life of condemned Iranian teenager Nazanin Mahabad Fatehi (pictured) yesterday released a 30-minute documentary in a last-ditch attempt to avert the young woman's execution.

In January 2006, 18-year-old Fatehi "was sentenced to death for murder by court in Iran after she stabbed one of three men who attempted to rape her and her 16-year-old niece in a park in Karaj (a suburb of Tehran) in March 2005".

In June 2006, "the Head of Judiciary Ayatollah Shahroudi announced a stay of execution and the call for a complete new retrial". The retrial is scheduled for today, hence the step-up in "Save Nazanin" activity.

According to helpnazanin.com, there are four possible outcomes to the trial. The court will either:

1. Spare the life of Nazanin and release her from prison or
2. announce a prison sentence of x number of years or
3. re-condemn Nazanin for execution or
4. ask Nazanin to negotiate "Dieh" (Blood Money) with the family of the alleged rapist and have her released subject to her paying that amount.

Nazanin Afshin-Jam said: "It's just so unjust that this girl has already suffered enough and then to be put into the position of being faced with three potential rapists, defending herself, her honour, her chasitity and that of her niece and then being tried as he worst criminal that can exist on this planet and being sentenced to death by hanging."

The documentary is available here. There's an online petition (which has already clocked up and impressive 253,317 signatures) here, or you can make a donation to the Nazanin Fatehi fighting fund here. ®