IRAN: 239 EXECUTIONS IN THE FIRST HALF OF 2017
June 30, 2017: According to reports by Iran Human Rights (IHR), 239 executions were carried out in Iran in the first six months of 2017. Among them were three individuals who were under the age of 18 at the time they allegedly committed the offence they were sentenced to death for. One of the juvenile offenders was reportedly executed in Karaj Central Prison for a murder crime he allegedly committed 30 years ago at the age of 16. The other two juvenile offenders were identified as Arman Bohr Asemani and Hassan Hassanzadeh. 194 of the 239 executions were reported by unofficial sources, while only 45 executions were announced by official sources (including Iran's Judiciary and state-run media). 12 of the 239 executions were carried out in public. 129 of the 239 prisoners were executed on drug related charges. Iranian parliament members had formerly requested from the Judiciary to stop drug related executions for at least five thousand prisoners pending further investigation. However, the request has not stopped the Judiciary from carrying out death sentences for prisoners with drug related charges. (Source: Iran Human Rights, June 30, 2017)
|