Prisoner hanged on drug charges in western Iran

According to close sources, the prisoner's name is Hashem Qareqezelou and he was executed on the morning of Sunday January 29. Mr. Qereqezeloo was reportedly detained in a prison in the city of Qorveh (Kurdistan province, western Iran) for two years and one month, but was moved to Hamedan (Hamedan province, western Iran) 12 days before his execution.

"Hashem was arrested in 2011, and on July 18, 2012, the revolutionary court in Hamedan sentenced him to death on the charge of trafficking and possession of one kilogram of heroin and 700 grams of crystal meth," a close source tells Iran Human Rights.

Executions for drug related charges are increasing in Iran while the Iranian Parliament has proposed a law to limit the use of the death penalty for drug charges. The law must first be approved by Iran's Guardian Council, and it is not clear whether it would actually lead to a reduction in the number of drug related executions. Additionally, members of parliament recently wrote a letter to the head of the Judiciary calling for a halt to the execution sentences of about five thousand prisoners who are on death row for allegedly committing drug related offenses.