Iran Eases Death Penalty for Drug Crimes, Saving Potentially Thousands of Lives
"So we must be vigilant that the new law is implemented thoroughly
and nobody for drug trafficking crimes is not executed anymore even if he has been already sentenced to death." Iran’s Drug Control Headquarters spoke out against the new legislation, warning it would cause a surge in drug-related crime.
Nasrin Sotoudeh said that This is a very positive step, and I welcome it,
" she said. that For example in 2013 it was approved
that criminals under 18 cannot be executed unless the judge can verify the maturity of mind of the convicted, but my client, Ali Reza Tajik was executed in Shiraz although he was minor with no maturity in mind,
10, 2018
TEHRAN — Iranians sentenced to death for drug-related crimes have had their convictions suspended by the country’s hard-line judiciary, a move
that activists say could save potentially 5,000 lives.
Based on the new amendment, only those distributing more than 50 kilograms of narcotics like
opium, 2 kilograms of heroin or 3 kilograms of crystal meth will be sentenced to death.
Iran’s Parliament amended the country’s drug laws last autumn, removing the death sentence
for a number of drug-related crimes and replacing it with life imprisonment or fines.