Iran Murders Twenty People on Saturday Morning

Iran's state-controlled news agency, Fars, reported that 20 people were hanged on Saturday morning in the Rajai Shahr Prison. Those murdered were reportedly between the ages of 35 to 48, and were accused of drug trafficking. In light of recent controversy in Iran and the country's history of bringing forth bogus charges against dissidents, it is difficult to believe the charges against the accused were valid. This is just the latest in a string of hangings in Iran.

Here is an excerpt from Iran Focus published today about some of the other reported hangings that have taken place over the last week:

Separately, two people were hanged in a prison in the southern city of Shiraz, the state-run daily Etemad wrote on Saturday. They were accused of murder.

Iranian authorities on Thursday hanged six people in a prison in the holy city of Qom, central Iran, according to another report by Fars. They were accused of drug trafficking.

Six people were hanged on Wednesday in Tehran's notorious Evin Prison, the state-run news agency ISNA reported, without identifying them. They were accused of murder.

Iranian authorities routinely execute dissidents on bogus charges such as armed robbery and drug trafficking.

Since the 12 June presidential election, millions of people have taken part in anti-government rallies in Tehran and other major cities, protesting the re-appointment of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad following the election which they believe was rigged. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on 19 June rallied behind Ahmadinejad and demanded protestors stop their action. Demonstrators have since directed their protests at the entirety of the clerical establishment, with chants of “death to Khamenei”.

Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami, a ranking cleric, on Friday said, "Anyone who takes up arms to fight with the people is worthy of execution."

Read more from Iran Focus here.

Also See:
- Ahmadinejad Condemns Obama; Snipers Continue Murdering Protesters
- Neda Agha-Soltan: The Face of Iranian Protests
- Special Report: Iran Election Chaos...Future of The Islamic Republic of Iran in Question?
- Continued Iranian Uprising Against the Oppressive Regime
- Iranian Election Dispute

Posted in: Human Rights,Iran,Islamo Fascism