27 prisoners hanged on one day, not counting secret executions

HRANA News Agency – On Thursday, Aug. 21, 2013, the total number of inmates hanged in six prisons throughout Iran reached 27, but the number might even be higher. Official reports indicate that 27 prisoners were hanged on Thursday in Arak, Mashhad, Urmia, Karaj, Hendijan and Ardabil. Among those hanged were five prisoners who were executed at the Central Prison in Arak for a total amount of five kg of narcotics. Meanwhile, 11 inmates were executed secretly in Karaj and five in Urmai.

According to a report by Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), early Thursday morning, five inmates convicted of drug trafficking were hanged at the Central Prison in Arak. The Deputy Prosecutor of Arak announced that five prisoners were sentenced to death on charges of distributing narcotics and possession of five kg of heroin, crack and crystal meth. “The death sentences were confirmed by the Attorney General,” he said. “At last, after all criminal procedures and due process were met, the prisoners were hanged.”

The Deputy Prosecutor of Arak identified the inmates by their first initials and described the charges as follows:

♦ A.K., 25 years old, tried and convicted at the 2nd branch of the Revolutionary Court for the possession of 598.50 g of crack.
♦ P.E., 24 years old, tried and convicted at the 2nd branch of the Revolutionary Court for the distribution and possession of 890 g of crystal meth.
♦ A.A., 37 years old, tried and convicted at the 1st branch of the Revolutionary Court for the distribution of 1.8 kg of crack.
♦ A.T., 35 years old, and M.A., 29 years old, were respectively tried and convicted at the 1st and 2nd branches of the Revolutionary Courts for the distribution and possession of 2.3 kg of crack in total.