Makwan Moloudzadeh was 21-years-old. He was murdered by his butchers inside Kermanshah prison where he was detained after being sentenced to death for “lavat” (sodomy). The boy, according to the Iranian judges, was “guilty” of having loved a peer when he was 13 and having sexual intercourse with him. The execution took place yesterday (December 5th, 2007) in the above-mentioned prison in the north-west of Iran at five in the morning (Iranian time). The sentence was carried out among the total silence of the press, institutions and associations. They did not even trouble to inform Makwan’s lawyer, father and uncle, with whom Gruppo EveryOne (who had just launched the international “hearts campaign” to save Makwan’s life) was in contact with.

“We were devastated to hear the news” say the leaders of EveryOne Roberto Malini, Matteo Pegoraro and Dario Picciau. “We are still receiving hundreds of emails from all over the world in support of the campaign for Makwan’s life; from international political figures, activists and everyday citizens. The news of his death has stunned everyone, because only a few days ago the Iranian Head of the Judiciary, l'Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi had suspended the sentence, manifesting the intention of granting Makwan a pardon”. Gruppo EveryOne will remember Makwan Moloudzadeh and his martyrdom with an annual prize awarded to those who play an important role in the fight for human rights and against homophobia. The Makwan Moloudzadeh 2007 Prize is awarded to Glenys Robinson, a British citizen who lives in Italy, who showed great sensitivity and commitment in the campaign to secure the release of Pegah Emambakhsh. Glenys is now a member of EveryOne and devotes time and energy to our human rights projects. “They have murdered Makwan, but his memory lives on in all of us, and it calls on Iran and the whole world to abandon discrimination against gays and lesbians. We must call for a firm protest on an international level and bring a charge against Amadinejad and his Government for crimes against humanity” say the leaders of EveryOne “but before that we have to create a strong worldwide network that is prepared to report cases of this kind and to undertake immediate action that will stop these executions. Democratic countries must also examine their own consciences and realise that the fight against homophobia starts with an equal recognition of homosexual unions, because without this fundamental right gays and lesbians are condemned to be segregated.”



For Gruppo EveryOne : Roberto Malini, Matteo Pegoraro, Dario Picciau, Ahmad Rafat, Glenys Robinson, Arsham Parsi, Christos Papaioannou, Steed Gamero, Fabio Patronelli, Laura Todisco, Alessandro Matta

For further information:

Gruppo EveryOne

(+ 39) 334-8429527

www.everyonegroup.com :: info@everyonegroup.com