IRAN: 11 PRISONERS EXECUTED FOR DRUG OFFENCES

September 7, 2015: Iranian authorities hanged 11 prisoners charged with drug offences early in the morning, according to the Iran Human Rights (IHR) sources in Ghezelhesar prison of Karaj (west of Tehran).
One of those executed was a school teacher identified as Mahmood Barati who was sentenced to death on false charges, according to an IHR source. Barati was arrested 10 years ago and sentenced to death only based on the testimony by an individual who was also charged with drug offences. There were no other evidence against Mr. Barati besides the testimoney. The key witness, who was later executed for drug charges, had withdrawn his testimoney twice. Mahmood Barati didn't have any previous criminal record and at that time worked as teacher in Taybad (eastern Iran).
The family of Mr. Barati didn't get the opportunity to visit him for the last time.
The other prisoners who were hanged included "Ali Tafreshi", "Mehdi rahimi" from the Unit 2 of Ghezelhesar prison, "Hossein Rostami" from Fasha prison (south of Tehran), five prisoners from the "Great Tehran Central Prison" and one unidentified prisoner.
Iran Human Rights strongly condemns today's executions. IHR's spokesperson Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam said: "Mahmood Barati is only one of many innocent prisoners who are executed for drug charges by the Iranian authorities. The international community must put pressure on Iran to stop the arbitrary executions under the pretext of fighting the drug trafficking". (Source: Iran Human Rights, Sept. 8, 2015)