Iran Focus: Tehran, Iran, Aug. 05 – Iranian authorities last week carried out a mass execution of 24 people west of Tehran, state media reported on Wednesday.
Iran Focus
Tehran, Iran, Aug. 05 – Iranian authorities last week carried out a mass execution of 24 people west of Tehran, state media reported on Wednesday.
The 24 people, who were not named, were hanged in a prison in Karaj on Thursday 30 July, the state-owned daily Etemad quoted deputy Tehran prosecutor Mahmoud Salarkia as saying. "The Supreme Court approved their execution", he said.
The report said they were accused of drug trafficking.
Iranian authorities routinely execute dissidents on bogus charges such as armed robbery and drug trafficking.
In a separate mass execution, authorities hanged 20 people in Karaj on 4 July.
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”.
