12 Prisoners in Imminent Danger of Execution for Drug Charges

Iran Human Rights (JAN 13 2017): Iran Human Rights has obtained information about one of the 12 prisoners who were transferred to solitary confinement in Karaj Central Prison on Sunday January 8 in preparation for their executions. All 12 prisoners are reportedly sentenced to death for alleged drug related offenses and are still being held in solitary.

Close sources say Mohammad Soleimani was arrested 18 months ago by Iranian drug enforcement agents based solely on the testimonies of two prisoners. These two prisoners, who were caught with a total amount of 820 grams of crack, claimed to Iranian authorities that the crack was delivered to them by Mohammad Soleimani. One of the prisoners was sentenced to a 15-year prison term and the other to life imprisonment while Mr. Soleimani was sentenced to death by the Karaj Revolutionary Court.

"Mohammad is father to three children ages one, two and six. If he is executed, his children will become orphaned. They didn't even find one gram of drugs on him. He was sentenced to death based solely on the claims of others," a source close to Mr. Soleimani tells Iran Human Rights.  

"The 12 prisoners were supposed to be hanged by now, but because of Mr. Rafsanjani's death, their execution sentences have been postponed for a couple days."