A young girl who defended herself and her chastity against three male assailants, who intended to kidnap and rape her, causing injury to one of them who later died in hospital was condemned to death by hanging in an Islamic court in Iran. Nazanin who has seen no more than 17 springs, all of which under the tyrannical rule of the Mullahs is now facing execution for trying to defend herself and her honour.

Nowhere in the world and under no law self defence is considered to be a crime, but in the apparently orthodox Iran if a woman does not resist rape she will be stoned as adulterer and if she does she will be hanged, as it seems.

Three criminal men assaulted Nazanin, in the city of Karaj while walking home in the midday last March (2005). To defend herself she pulled out a knife and stabbed one of her assailants. The knife penetrated the ribs of her attacker who later died in the hospital. The attacks on women in Iran are so frequent that many are forced to carry a concealed weapon for self-defence. Unfortunately the Islamic law there does not even allow women the right to self-defence.

Despite the fact that she had been acting in self-defence, as shown by the evidences presented and the testimony of eyewitnesses, Nazanin was sentenced to death by hanging. In the last court hearing she told the judge "I only defended myself and the honour of my family". She repeated this several times. Her words fell on deaf ears and the all male jury perhaps thought it is outrageous for a woman to stand for her rights and defend her dignity and honour, swiftly ordered her execution.

Such travesty of justice in Islamic Republic of Iran is perhaps beyond description. Please do not allow this crime go unnoticed. This girl is an innocent flower in the hands of ferocious zealots. Do not allow them to nip her young life in the bud. Let us together provoke an outcry so loud that the rulers in Iran can't ignore. Nonetheless it is our duty as humans not to remain silent.