Tehran [Iran], October 16: The Iranian judiciary has executed three men convicted of carrying out several armed robberies in the capital Tehran. According to the judiciary's website Mizan, the three were part of a so-called "horror gang," which last year repeatedly broke in to private homes in Tehran and robbed residents. The executions by hanging took place after the Supreme Court upheld the rulings by a lower court, Mizan reported. Human rights activists, both domestically and internationally, have for years criticized the rigorous application of the death penalty in Iran. The judiciary is accused of using executions to silence and intimidate critics. According to Amnesty International, this year has seen the highest number of executions in Iran in 15 years. So far, more than 1,000 death sentences are reported to have been carried out.
Source: Qatar Tribune
