Iran on Friday hanged 2 convicted drug traffickers in a prison in the western city of Borujerd, the official IRNA news agency reported.
The report identified the pair as Abdollah Derafshi and Ardeshir Niazi, convicted of "carrying and keeping 4.99 kilos (11 pounds) of crack (cocaine)."
"Due to the amendment to the law of combating drug trafficking, all persons convicted of distributing traditional and synthetic narcotic drugs, including crack, of more than 30 grammes (1 ounce) will be sentenced to death," IRNA quoted Borujerd's justice department head Mohammad Sadeq Akbari as saying.
The latest hangings bring to 16 the number of executions -- mostly of convicted drug traffickers -- reported in Iran so far this year, according to an AFP count based on media reports. At least 179 people were executed in 2010.
Along with China, Saudi Arabia and the United States, Iran has one of the highest numbers of executions each year.
Murder, rape, armed robbery, drug trafficking, homosexuality, apostasy and adultery are other crimes punishable by death in Iran.
The Islamic republic says the death penalty is essential to maintain law and order and is applied only after exhaustive judicial proceedings.
Source: Agence France-Presse, January 7, 2011
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