IRAN HANGS FOUR MEN

October 14, 2008: a man, convicted of murder, was hanged in a prison in the central city of Isfahan, the Fars news agency reported. The man who was identified as Omid Kh., 29, allegedly killed another man, identified only as Mostafa, six years ago. The previous day, the public relations unit of the Sistan-Baluchestan Province judiciary department in Iran announced that according to a verdict issued by the Zahedan Islamic Revolution Court, Sharam Ivani, Ramazan Rafi'i and Sasan Dogushgani, who were charged with carrying and possessing over 322 kg of heroin, were sentenced to death. The executions were carried out in the Zahedan prison after approval by officials of the top judiciary organisation. Hands Off Cain counted at least 232 executions in Iran in 2008. (Sources: BBC, Afp, 14/10/2008)