Eight criminals given public executions in Iran

Eight people were hanged recently in a growing number of executions officials state are aimed at improving public security in Iran, Agence-France Presse reports today.

Capital offences in Iran include murder, rape, armed robbery, apostasy, blasphemy, serious drug trafficking, pederasty, adultery, prostitution, treason and espionage.

Seven of the criminals were convicted of drug trafficking and hanged in public in the southeastern town of Mahan. The town lies on the road towards the Sistan-Baluchestan Province bordering Pakistan and Afghanistan, an area known to be a major transit point for drug trafficking. Furthermore, the executions come one week after the Mahan police chief was shot, although it is not certain the executions are linked to his killing.

The eighth man was executed in the Hormazgan Province for stabbing his mother, sister, and nephew to death, and then decapitating them.

The recent hangings bring the total executions for the year to 201. The number of executions in Iran last year, according to Amnesty International, was 177. Iran is the most prolific applier of the death penalty after China.

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