At least 8 prisoners executed in Iran, one day after EU expressed concern about the alarming number of the executions

Iran Human Rights, May 31: At least nine prisoners were executed in two different prisons in Iran today and yesterday, reported unofficial reports from Iran.

The 8 executions take place only one day after the EU expressed concern about what they called "the alarming increase in the use of death penalty" and asked Iran to "introduce a moratorium on executions"

Eight prisoners were executed in northwestern Iran:

According to the Kurdish "Mukrian News Agency" seven prisoners were hanged in the prison of Urmia (northwestern Iran). The report which was quoting Mr. Masoud Shamsnejad, the lawyer of one of those executed, all the prisoners were convicted of drug-related charges. The prisoners were identified as: Allahvordi A., Sayyad A., Safar P., Haji P., Khosro D., Nahad N., Omran G., and Abdolmajid M.

At least one prisoner was executed in Tehran today:

According to the website of "Human rights and democracy activists in Iran" (HRDAI) several prisoners were hanged in Tehran’s Evin prison this morning. One of the prisoners is identified as "Kourosh Zarini" who according to the report was involved in the uprising and clashes between the guards and prisoners in the Ghezel Hesar prison two years ago. More than 40 prisoners were killed under these clashes.

According to the official and unofficial reports from Iran at least 78 prisoners have been executed in May 2012 in Iran.

Yesterday EU expressed concern about the alarming increase in the use of death penalty in Iran.

According to Reuters the European Union criticized Iran on Wednesday for an “alarming” increase in the use of the death penalty this year, calling on Tehran to introduce a moratorium on executions.

“According to the latest data, compiled from a number of sources, the rate of executions in Iran during the first 5 months of 2012 confirmed the country as one of the world’s leading users of the death penalty,” a spokesman for the EU’s foreign policy chief said.

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton is “deeply concerned by the alarming increase”, the spokesman said.

Source: Iran Human Rights, May 31, 2012