Tehran: Iran has hanged five men
convicted of drug trafficking, the state broadcaster website
reported on Thursday, taking to 33 the number of executions in the
Islamic republic in 2011.
The report said the executions were carried out in the
western city of Khoramabad, but it neither identified the
convicts nor did it provide any more information.
Of the 33 people executed in Iran so far this year,
according to an agency count based on media reports, most were
drug traffickers.
At least 179 people were executed in 2010.
Along with China, Saudi Arabia and the United States,
Iran has one of the highest numbers of executions each year.
Murder, rape, armed robbery, drug trafficking and
adultery are other crimes punishable by death in Iran.
The Islamic republic says the death penalty is
essential to maintain law and order and is applied only after
exhaustive judicial proceedings.
PTI
