7 Prisoners Including Women Hanged on Drug Charges in East Central Iran

Iran Human Rights (APR 18 2016): Five men and two women were reportedly hanged at Birjand's central prison (located in the South Khorasan province) on drug charges. According to a report by the human rights group, HRANA, the executions were carried out on the morning of Thursday April 14 and two of the prisoners have been identified as Mohammad Niazi and Moheb Rahmati. Iranian official sources, including state media and the Judiciary, have been silent about these executions.

Prior to the recent parliamentary election in Iran, Iranian official sources reported that 70 members of Iran's Parliament had signed a proposal to end the death penalty for drug offenses. However, the fate of the bill in the new parliament is unknown. The bill proposed that individuals who are convicted of nonviolent drug offenses be issued a life sentence instead of death.