More hands amputated in Iran
("AsiaNews," October 27, 2010)
Tehran, Iran – More and more people are getting their hands chopped off in
Iran. In the last few months, seven have had a hand amputated by the state
to serve as an “example” for others, this despite the fact that Ali
Shahrokhi, head of the Majlis judiciary committee, announced a year ago that
the
Iranian parliament (Majlis) would pass a bill to eliminate stoning and
amputation sentences.
The numbers cited by the Mehr news agency, which is affiliated with the
Islamic Propaganda Organisation, are alarming.
A thief’s hand was amputated at a prison in Yazd in accordance with a trial
court order upheld by the Supreme Court. Mehr reported that the “
professional thief’s” hand was amputated after the Yazd judiciary announced
plans
to implemented “harsher and firmer punishments” for crimes such as theft.
The thief’s appeal was unsuccessful.
Akbar Biglari, chief prosecutor in Hamedan province, defended the judiciary
decision to have hands chopped off inside prison. “The Shiite nation has
always been subjected to oppression in history. Global imperialism will
abuse the execution of this punishment and claim that Iran does not respect
human rights.”
Last week, a 21-year-old man’s hand was amputated after he stole items from
a bakery.
Two weeks ago, the Mashhad judiciary announced that the hand of a prisoner
convicted of theft was amputated in prison and in front of other prisoners,
as a future “warning”.
About three months ago, five men in their mid-20s lost their hands to the
axe after they were convicted on several counts of theft involving cattle
and cars.
Earlier this year, an Iranian daily reported that a thief was publicly
executed in the city of Mahshahr, whilst his co-conspirator’s hand and foot
were amputated in prison.
The two men had been charged with removing transportation trucks from the
Imam port, stealing their cargo, and abandoning the trucks.
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