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U.S. | 'I comfort death row inmates in their final moments - the execution room is like a house of horrors'

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Reverend Jeff Hood, 40, wants to help condemned inmates 'feel human again' and vows to continue his efforts to befriend murderers in spite of death threats against his family A reverend who has made it his mission to comfort death row inmates in their final days has revealed the '"moral torture" his endeavor entails. Reverend Dr. Jeff Hood, 40, lives with his wife and five children in Little Rock, Arkansas. But away from his normal home life, he can suddenly find himself holding the shoulder of a murderer inside an execution chamber, moments away from the end of their life. 

Iran: Man hanged in public in Sarab; man pardoned in 1996 due for execution again

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A man, identified only with his first name Daryoush, was hanged in prison in the western city of Sarab (East Azarbaijan province) on Wednesday, 27 August 2014.

The death sentence was implemented after head of the Judiciary, representing the Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, authorised it. 

The prisoner was accused of being the main culprit in killing a young man in a fight. His brother, Akbar, was convicted as his accomplice, but his sentence was not reported.

Source: Agencies, August 29, 2014


Iran: Man pardoned in 1996 due for execution again

A man identified only with his first name Niaz-Ali is facing the death penalty. He has been detained three weeks ago and sentenced to death for the second time. 

After being convicted for killing his business partner in 1992, he was sentenced to death and hanged in March 1996. The medics confirmed his death after 20 minutes of hanging, but he was found to be alive on the way to the Coroner's Office. 

The victim's parents withdrew their complaint after receiving financial compensation known as 'blood money,' and he was released from prison. 

The victim's son, who was two years old at the time, recently filed a new complaint and demanded a large amount of money (approximately US$120,000) as blood money. 

The execution is imminent upon the head of the Judiciary's authorisation. 

Source: Agencies, August 29, 2014
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