Iran's anti-narcotics police oppose abolition of death penalty
While Iran's Islamic Consultative Assembly is pursuing preparations for a plan to eliminate the death penalty for some drug crimes, the head of Iran's anti-narcotics police has opposed the plan, saying the move would lead to an increase in drug traffickers.
Last month, the parliamentary judiciary commission voted on a bill that would exempt drug trafficking from the death penalty if it is not committed by a gang or armed group and the defendant has not served more than 15 years in prison. The bill was drafted following widespread protests by international organizations and government officials over the high number of executions in Iran.
Iran is accused by human rights organizations and the US State Department's annual report on the state of human rights in the world of high executions of its citizens. Iran carries out the most executions per year after China. However, the majority of these executions are for drug offenses.
According to Iranian domestic news agencies, Mohammad Masoud Zahedian, head of the Anti-Narcotics Police, said in a press conference on Monday, May 1, that he believes that if this plan is fully approved and turned into law, the number of drug criminals will increase and more will turn to this issue under the pretext of profit.
Referring to the parliament's plan, he said: "Abolishing the death penalty will lead to the impunity of drug convicts and traffickers, and in the recent period since this discussion has been raised, we have seen an increase in the number of novices arrested for drug trafficking."
Under current laws, possession of one kilogram of drugs such as heroin or crack cocaine carries the death penalty. This law has made Iran one of the countries with the highest execution rates in the world.
Judiciary officials defend the execution of drug offenders. Last March, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein stated in his report that the majority of death sentences in Iran are related to drug trafficking, which according to international standards are not considered "very serious crimes."
The Islamic Republic of Iran executed more than 530 people last year and 113 people in the first two months of this year.
The high number of executions in Iran has prompted protests from international human rights organizations.
Source: Voice of America
