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Iranwire – The Islamic Republic’s foreign minister has urged his Singaporean counterpart to reconsider the execution of Masoud Rahimi, a Singaporean-Iranian dual national.
Abbas Araghchi conveyed the message to Vivian Balakrishnan, saying, “The Islamic Republic of Iran respects Singapore’s laws but urges reconsideration of Masoud Rahimi’s execution on humanitarian grounds,” according to IRNA news agency.
Masoud Rahimi Mehrzad, 34, faces imminent execution in Singapore’s Changi Prison for drug-related offenses.
Arrested at the age of 20 while serving his compulsory National Service and struggling with PTSD and Anxiety Disorder, Rahimi’s execution is scheduled for Friday despite ongoing legal proceedings.
Rahimi was arrested on May 20, 2010, for drug-related offenses and later sentenced to death for possessing 31 grams of diamorphine and 77 grams of methamphetamine, allegedly intended for trafficking.
Born in Singapore to an Iranian father and a Singaporean mother, Masoud was taken to Iran by his father as a small child after his parents’ divorce.
He completed his primary education in Iran before moving to Dubai with his family, where he attended secondary school.
At 17, he returned to Singapore to fulfill his compulsory National Service, despite his father’s efforts to defer it until he was older and better equipped for the transition.
On Thursday, prominent Iranian human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh appealed to Singapore’s president to intervene and prevent the execution.
In a letter, Sotoudeh implored President Tharman Shanmugaratnam to use his constitutional powers to halt the execution “by any means you see fit.”
“In this specific case, where one of my compatriots has been sentenced to death, I am certain that your pardon and compassion could have a serious and positive impact on the fight against the death penalty in Iran,” Sotoudeh wrote.
“I respectfully ask you not to withhold this opportunity from Iran’s civil society. By exercising this legal authority, you can help us in this struggle,” she added.
