Iran executes four men in Sistan-va-Baluchistan Province
Published: Tuesday, August 12, 2008
13:00GMT—9:00AM/EST
IRAN – EXECUTION
Washington, 12 August (IranVNC)—Iran’s semi-official Fars News Agency reports today that Iran hanged four men in Zahedan prison in the country’s southeastern province of Sistan-va-Baluchistan, contradicting an earlier report by state-run television that ONLY three men were executed.
Citing the public relations office of the province’s court, Fars reports that another man, identified as Asadollah Ashaq-Zehi, was hanged today, along with Gol-Mohammad Saleh-Zehi, Rahim Baranzehi, and Lalmohammad Zeinoddini.
Saleh-Zehi and Baranzehi were convicted of carrying 30 kilos (66 pounds) of morphine and Ashaq-Zehi and Zeinoddini for carrying 22 kilos (48 pounds) of heroin.
With today’s execution, more than 40 individuals have been executed since 22 July of this year for “hooliganism and drug trafficking”, Fars reports, citing figures by Iran’s Judiciary.
Drug trafficking, adultery, armed robbery, murder and rape are among some of the offenses punishable by death in the Islamic Republic.
Iran has received widespread condemnation by international bodies, including the European Union, and human rights groups, such as Amnesty International, for its high use of the death penalty.
According to Amnesty International, Iran executed 317 individuals last year, second only to China, “although its population is 18 times smaller than China’s.”
Prior to the execution of seven individuals in the past week, Amnesty International said that 191 individuals have been hanged in Iran this year.
Following international outcry over Iran’s mass execution of 29 individuals on 27 July, Tehran’s provisional Friday prayer leader, Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati, lauded Iran’s actions, saying on 1 August that Iran’s decision was a “decisive move [that] was a very good one, since the roots of corruption need to be dried.”
Sources: Fars News Agency, Amnesty International
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