IRAN: 25 PRISONERS HANGED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING

January 3, 2012: At least 25 prisoners have been executed in Iran in the past two days, official and unofficial sources said.
According to Markazinews (official site of the Markazi province, south of Tehran) the first two prisoners were hanged in the prison of Arak on January 3.
According to the report the prisoners were identified as "J. Sh." and "A. A." and were convicted of "keeping and carrying 2,5 kilograms and 4400 grams of concentrated heroin and crack, respectively".
The website "Human Rights and Democracy Activists of Iran" (HRDAI) reported that 22 prisoners were executed in the Evin prison of Tehran on January 3.
According to this report the prisoners who were allegedly convicted of drug-related offences had been transferred from the Ghezel Hesar prison of Karaj to Tehran’s Evin prison on January 1. The report identified 13 of the prisoners by name and said that there was one Afghan citizen among them.
According to "Kurdistan News Agency" (Kurdpa) one prisoner identified as Salah Rashidi from the village of "Arbila" near Urmia was hanged in the prison of Zanjan (west of Tehran) on January 2. According to this report the prisoner’s body was handed over to his family few hours after the execution. He was convicted of drug trafficking, said the report. (Sources: Iran Human Rights, 03/12/2012)