Iran to limit execution in public

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Iran to limit execution in public

Preparations for public hanging in Shiraz

Public executions have become more common in a blitz on crime

The head of Iran's judiciary has issued an order that no executions be carried out in public without his permission.

 

Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahrudi also banned the publication of photographs or films of executions.

 

Human rights groups say Iran executed nearly 300 people in 2007 as it tries to improve security and reduce what it calls immoral behaviour.

 

Most executions take place inside prisons but some criminals have been hanged from cranes in public.

 

Correspondents say it appears Ayatollah Shahrudi wants to lower the profile of executions as Iran has been widely criticised by Western countries and international organisations.

 

Iran has executed at least 28 convicts so far this year, according to media reports.

 

Capital offences in Iran include murder, rape, armed robbery, serious drug trafficking, apostasy, adultery and male homosexuality.

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/7217509.stm

 

I wonder if female homosexuality is either legal, or just not accepted as ever happening?

[Meenzer 15877]

Wey it's difficult to gobble the minge when you're hermetically sealed inside a burqa.

 

I'm reserving my judgement of Iran's stance on such "crimes" until there's a definitive conclusion to the story about those two teenage lads who were hanged for homosexual acts a few years back. Seriously upsetting story and images, but (as ever) there's conflicting tales of what actually led to their conviction, from "messing around with another bloke" through to full-blown rape. It'd be nice to know where the threshold of taking action lies, even if homosexuality is nominally illegal there. Tehran has about as extensive a gay scene as Newcastle, after all.