Gay Man Executed in Iran

The execution of a 21-year-old Iranian man that was reportedly stayed due to international pressure in mid-November has happened.

“Mr. Makvan Mouloodzadeh was executed in Kermanshah Central Prison at 5 a.m. this morning, Iranian time.” the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission reports:

Mr. Mouloodzadeh was a 21-year-old Iranian citizen who was accused of committing anal rape (ighab) with other young boys when he was 13 years old. However, at Mr. Mouloodzadeh’s trial, all the witnesses retracted their pre-trial testimonies, claiming to have lied to the authorities under duress. Makvan also told the court that his confession was made under coercion and pleaded not guilty. On June 7, 2007, the Seventh District Criminal Court of Kermanshah in Western Iran found him guilty and sentenced him to death. Despite his lawyer’s appeal, the Supreme Court upheld his death sentence on August 1, 2007. The case caused an international uproar, and prompted a letter writing campaign by IGLHRC and similar actions by Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Outrage! and Everyone Group. (source)

I suppose I should at least make mention of this since none of the so-called news agencies are covering this story.

I’m puzzled though... I thought that Iran had no homosexuals.

“In Iran we don’t have homosexuals like in your country. We don’t have that like in your country. In Iran we do not have this phenomenon. I don’t know who’s told you that we have this.” - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad