2012 begins with at least 25 executions in Iran

Tehran's Evin prison

Iran Human Rights, January 3, 2012: The new year (2012) begins with more reports of executions in Iran. According to official and unofficial sources at least 25 prisoners have been executed in the past two days.

Two prisoners executed in the prison of Arak (south of Tehran):

According to Markazinews (official site of the Markazi province, south of Tehran) two prisoners were hanged in the prison of Arak early Tuesday morning January 3. According to the report the prisoners were identified as "J. Sh." and "A. A." and were convicted of "keeping and carrying 2,5 kilograms and 4400 grams of concentrated heroin and crack, respectively".

Secret execution of 22 prisoners in Tehran according to unofficial source:

The website "Human Rights and Democracy Activists of Iran" (HRDAI) reported that 22 prisoners were executed in the Evin prison of Tehran early Tuesday January 3.

According to this report the prisoners who were allegedly convicted of drug-related offences had been transferred from the Ghezel Hesar prison of Karaj to Tehran’s Evin prison on Sunday January 1. The report identified 13 of the prisoners by name and said that there was one Afghan citizen among them.

One prisoner was executed in Zanjan:

According to "Kurdistan News Agency" (Kurdpa) one prisoner identified as Salah Rashidi from the village of "Arbila" near Urmia was hanged in the prison of Zanjan (west of Tehran) on Monday January 2. According to this report the prisoner’s body was handed over to his family few hours after the execution. He was convicted of drug trafficking, said the report.

Source: Iran Human Rights, January 3, 2012