[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----worldwide

[Rick Halperin]

Dec. 2


IRAN----executions

Iran hangs 3 drug traffickers in public


Iran on Sunday hanged 2 convicted drug traffickers and a convicted rapist
in public in the clerical city of Qom, the latest in a growing number of
executions, state news agency IRNA reported.

The drug traffickers, identified as Yahya Madadi and Atollah Poolzehi,
were hanged for trafficking more than 100 kilos (220 pounds) of heroin.

The rapist, identified as Hossein Safarlou, had also been convicted of
drug trafficking.

"The police are serious in their policy of decisively combatting thugs and
drug traffickers," Rahim Khorshid, police force commander of Qom province,
told the crowd during the public hangings.

The Islamic republic has noticeably stepped up executions in recent months
as officials enforce a campaign against what the authorities call "thugs"
such as drug-traffickers, extortionists and rapists.

The hangings bring the total number of executions in Iran this year to
273.

Iran executed at least 177 people in 2006, according to Amnesty
International. Iran is the most prolific applier of the death penalty in
the world after China.

Capital offences in Iran include murder, rape, armed robbery, serious drug
trafficking and adultery.

A large number of the executions have been in public, including the rare
hanging of 2 killers in Tehran city centre in a clear warning by the
authorities of the seriousness of their drive.

(source: The Times of India)