Petrelis Files

S.F. Gays Join Aug. 11 Global Protest Against Iran's Killing of Teenagers

For Immediate Release
August 9, 2005
Contact: Michael Petrelis, mpetrelis@aol.com
Ph: 415-621-6267

(San Francisco, CA) - A protest will be held in San Francisco to condemn Iran's recent public hanging of two teenagers, who may have been gay. The action is part of a worldwide day of action focusing attention on Iran's barbaric capitol punishment laws and executions.

WHO: Gays Against Executions

WHAT: Press Conference and Protest

WHERE: Harvey Milk Plaza, Castro and Market Streets

DATE: August 11

TIME: 5:00 - 6:00 p.m.

The Mayor of San Francisco and members of the Board of Supervisors have been invited to speak at the press conference.

Gays who support abolishing capitol punishment and Iran's executions of teenagers, regardless of their "crimes" or sexual orientations, will be holding similar actions in Dublin, London, Montpelier and Paris.

One of the San Francisco organizers, Michael Petrelis, said the following information from OutRage!, the UK-based gay human rights pressure group, must be widely known throughout the U.S. gay community:

The two Iranian teenagers, Mahmoud Asgari (16) and Ayaz Marhoni (18) were hanged in Edalat (Justice) Square in the city of Mashhad on July 19, 2005. Some reports say they were hanged for gay sex. The Iranian government claims they were hanged for the rape of a 13 year old boy.

Fact: Iran executes lesbians and gays. The Iranian government has executed an estimated 4,000 LGBT people since 1979. In these circumstances, we are not prepared to give the violently homophobic Iranian government the benefit of the doubt. It has previously lied to justify public executions, noted OutRage!.

Petrelis said, "Gays must take two public stands: oppose capitol punishment as human rights activists and hold all governments accountable for their antigay human rights abuses."