At least 31 executions in Iran in past two weeks

Public execution in Kermanshah on 6 May 2013 of three men convicted of murder. (Photo Iran Human Rights).

Iran carries on with its executions. According to the organization Iran Human Rights in the past two weeks at least 31 people have been executed through hanging. Four prisoners were hanged in Semnan Province (northern Iran) early in the morning of 9 May, reported the Iranian state media. According to the Iranian state broadcasting one prisoner, who was not identified by name, was hanged in the prison of Semnan. He was convicted of carrying 72 kilograms of heroin, said the report. The state run Iranian news agency Fars reported that three prisoners were hanged in the prison of Shahrud (Semann Province, northern Iran) on the same day. These prisoners were identified as "A. S." convicted of possession and trafficking of 2900 grams of heroin, "M. Kh." and "H. R." for participation in possession and trafficking of 3894 grams of heroin.
Three prisoners were hanged in the prison of Isfahan (Central Iran) early on 7 May. According to the Iranian state broadcastin the prisoners were convicted of possession and selling and buying of 77 kilograms of heroin and crack. None of them was identified by name.
Four prisoners were hanged in the prison of Arak (central Iran) on 2 May. They were identified as "M. Y." born in 1988 convicted of buying and possession of 4 kilograms of crack, "M. H." for possession of 780 grams of concentrated heroin, "A. A." for possession and attempt to sell 243 grams of crystal, 3 kilograms of Hashish and 2900 grams of opium, and "M. J." for possession and buying of about 800 grams of crystal, said the report.
On 26 April the Iranian state news agency Aftab reported that four prisoners were hanged in the prison of Kerman, all of them had been convicted of drugs smuggling. Four other prisoners convicted of drug related charges were hanged in the prison prison of Kerman a week earlier. On Sunday 28 April two prisoners were hanged in the prison of Varamin (near Tehran), according to the state run news agency Fars. They were identified as Ghasem B. charged with possession and trafficking of 400 grams, and Hadi Kh. charged with possession and trafficking of 547 grams of crack.