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Iran steps up executions in volatile region |
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Tuesday, 26 September 2006 |
Iran Focus
 Tehran, Iran, Sep. 26 – Iranian authorities have hanged three prisoners in the south-eastern city of Zahedan, the semi-official Jomhouri Islami reported on Tuesday.
The three men, identified as Ali Karimi, Gholam Koohkan, and Khodamorad Lashkarzadeh, were accused of drug trafficking, the report said.
They were hanged in prison on Sunday.
Four other men, identified as Shah Mohammad, Nader Reigi, Abdol-Ali Baluch, and Mohammad Shakib, were hanged on Saturday in Zahedan Prison.
Iranian authorities routinely execute dissidents on the bogus charge of drug smuggling.
Zahedan is the provincial capital of Sistan-va-Baluchestan which has been a hotbed of anti-government activities.
In recent months, Iranian authorities have stepped up executions in the restive province in what many Baluchis believe is a response to a spate of attacks by dissidents on government and security officials.
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