Man hanged in southern Iran

Iran Focus: Tehran, Jan. 18 – Iranian authorities hanged a man in the southern province of Kerman, according to a statement released Tuesday by the local branch of the judiciary.

Iran Focus

Tehran, Jan. 18 – Iranian authorities hanged a man in the southern province of Kerman, according to a statement released Tuesday by the local branch of the judiciary.

Ali K. was hanged in prison in the town of Zarand, the statement said.

He was accused of drug trafficking, it said, adding that his accomplice was sentenced to prison time, lashes and a fine.

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

There has been a sharp rise in executions in Iran in the past several weeks.