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

These executions took place only one day after the European Union expressed concern about what they call "the alarming increase in the use of death penalty."

Eight prisoners were executed in northwestern Iran:

According to the Kurdish "Mukrian News Agency", seven prisoners were hanged in Orumiyeh prison (northwestern Iran). The report, quoting Masoud Shamsnejad (the lawyer of one of the executed), said that 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 "Human rights and Democracy Activists in Iran" (HRDAI) website, several prisoners were hanged in Tehran’s Evin prison this morning. One of the prisoners was identified as "Koroush Zarini". According to the report, Zarini was involved in an uprising and clashes that occurred two years ago between guards and prisoners in Ghezel Hesar prison. More than 40 prisoners were killed in the clashes.

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

According to Reuters, the EU 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,” said a spokesman for the EU’s foreign policy chief.

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