Iran: Seven hanged on Christmas day; Kurdish political prisoner Habibollah Latifi scheduled to be executed Dec. 26

Public hanging in Tehran

Iran Human Rights, December 25: According to the news from Iran, three men were hanged in two different Iranian towns on Christmas day.

According to the state run Iranian news agency ISNA, two men were hanged in the prison of Saveh (southwest of Tehran). The men were identified as "Ahmad Amini Sangar" convicted of keeping 552 grams of heroin, 40 grams of crack and 20 grams of opium; and "Hassan Davtalab" (50 years old) convicted of keeping 2 kilos and 250 grams of heroin; according to the report. The men were executed in the prison of Saveh early this morning.

According to ISNA, another man, who wasn’t identified by name, was hanged in the prison of Sari, north of Iran, convicted of keeping and trafficking of crack.

The state run Iranian news agency Fars reported reported about execution of four other prisoners in the prison of Ahvaz, southwest of Iran. The prisoners were identified as "A. A." convicted of keeping 224 grams of heroin, "H. M." convicted of keeping 193 grams of heroin, "J. J." convicted of selling 50 grams of cannabis and "Gh. F." convicted of immoral acts. The executions took place early today 25th December at the Karoun prison of Ahvaz.

Iranian authorities have declared that they have extended list of the drugs offences that are punished by death penalty.

According to the reports from the Iranian Kurdistan, the Kurdish political prisoner Habibollah Latifi has been transferred to solitary confinement in the central prison of Sanandaj and is scheduled to be executed early tomorrow morning [Dec. 26, 2010].

Iran Human Rights has urged the international community to do whatever they can in order to stop Mr. Latifi’s life.

Source: Iran Human Rights, December 25, 2010

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