PARIS (AFP)--France Monday condemned the execution in Iran of a 23-year-old woman convicted of a murder committed when she was a teenager, and called for Tehran to abolish the death penalty.
Delara Darabi was hanged Friday after being found guilty of murdering a relative during a burglary she carried out with a friend at the age of 17.
"France condemns the hanging," said foreign ministry spokesman Frederic Desagneaux, adding that it took place after the head of the judiciary had granted her a two-month stay of execution April 19.
"France exhorts Iranian authorities to impose a moratorium on executions with a view to abolishing the death penalty in the future," he added.
Paris called on Iran in particular to refrain from executing minors or persons convicted for crimes committed while they were minors, in line with international conventions.
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(END) Dow Jones Newswires
May 04, 2009 07:49 ET (11:49 GMT) | 
