Iran hangs 10 in one day
2008-02-20 16:27
Tehran - Iran hanged 10 convicts on Wednesday, the latest in a growing number of executions in the Islamic republic that officials say are aimed at improving public security, the Fars news agency reported.
Six men were executed in prison for armed robbery in the northern city of Zanjan while four convicted murderers were hanged in Tehran's Evin prison, the news agency said.
Among the six who had been found guilty of robbing a jewellery store in Zanjan bazaar in 2006, Hassan Rezaian was also convicted of murdering a man and a woman.
In Tehran's Evin prison Peyman, 34, was hanged for murdering his wife, and Mohammad, 31, went to the gallows for killing his neighbour in a fight over shovelling snow in winter 2004.
The other two men had been found guilty of murdering homeowners during burglaries.
The hangings bring to at least 48 the number of executions in the Islamic republic so far this year.
The number of executions soared last year to 298, according to an AFP count.
Capital offences in Iran include murder, rape, armed robbery, serious drug trafficking and adultery.
The Islamic republic currently makes more use of the death penalty than any country other than China.
Human rights groups have accused Iran of excessive resort to the death penalty.
The authorities say capital punishment is an effective deterrent and is used only after an exhaustive judicial process.
Many executions last year took place in public but the judiciary chief Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi in January ordered that no executions should take place in public without his prior approval.
There have been no reports of any public hangings since then.