Two Iranian smugglers sentenced to death

AP: Two Iranians have been sentenced to death for smuggling thousands of antiques to the United States, Europe and Asia, State-run Tehran radio reported Saturday.
Hossein Marashi, Iran’s head of Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organization, said the men smuggled unique antiques found in Jiroft, the site of an ancient civilization dating back about 5,000 years in southern Iran’s Kerman province, out of the country. Associated Press

Tehran – Two Iranians have been sentenced to death for smuggling thousands of antiques to the United States, Europe and Asia, State-run Tehran radio reported Saturday.

Hossein Marashi, Iran’s head of Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organization, said the men smuggled unique antiques found in Jiroft, the site of an ancient civilization dating back about 5,000 years in southern Iran’s Kerman province, out of the country.

“A death sentence against two men convicted of smuggling thousands of pieces of antiques has been issued,” Tehran radio quoted Marashi as saying.

The identities of the men were not revealed and it was unclear when they were arrested and tried and during what period the antiquities were smuggled.

Marashi said the men smuggled the antiques to the United States, Europe and East Asia, but he did not specify their exact whereabouts now nor when they were taken out of Iran.

The historical site of Jiroft, 1,310 kilometers (814 miles) southeast of Tehran, is home to an ancient civilization and is dubbed as an archeologist’s paradise, since it is one of the most artifact-rich sites in Iran.