IRAN: MAJOR CURRENCY SPECULATORS COULD FACE DEATH PENALTY

February 2, 2012: The chief of Iran's judiciary warned that major currency speculators could face the death penalty.
The AP quotes Ayatollah Sadegh Amoli Larijani as saying that "depending on the importance of their crimes, some of the economic corrupted can face execution."
Iran's currency, the rial, has taken a beating, dropping in value as much as 30 percent compared to the dollar. Payvand, an American site devoted to Iranian news, reports that a few of those who exchange currency on the street have been arrested by the regime. The site reports that Larijani also blamed the fluctuations on internal forces. Payvand reports:
"In recent weeks, Iran's foreign currency and gold markets have experienced sharp fluctuations, which many analysts have linked to the intensification of international sanctions against Iran. A number of high-ranking Iranian officials, however, have blamed the market instability on disruptive plans implemented by the regime's enemies.
"Ayatollah Larijani said some of the 'problems in the foreign currency and gold markets are created by groups linked to the regime's enemies.' He added that these groups 'have made the market volatile by creating various websites that fabricate rates for foreign currency and gold.'" (Source: www.npr.org, 02/02/2012)