December 24, 2008: Iran hanged nine convicted murderers, including a woman, in a Tehran prison, the semi-official Fars news agency reported.
Ten convicts were taken to the gallows in Tehran's Evin prison in the morning, Fars reported, but one was returned to his cell because the family of the victim were not present at the prison.*
Under Iran's Islamic law, sharia, a victim's relatives may pardon the murderer in return for financial compensation.
The nine people condemned to death were hung in the jail yard at the crack of dawn.
According to the report, the woman killed was punished for the murder of her stepdaughter. She pleaded not guilty and told the court that the admission was forced out of her by the authorities.
The report did not identify any of those executed by name.
However, the woman who was hanged was identified as Tayebeh.
Source: IHR, Ynetnews, 24/12/2008
* According to
IranPressNews, Behnood Shojaee’s name has been removed from the list of those scheduled to be executed. The Iranian daily newspaper
Etemaad reported that Behnood’s name, which originally was on the list, has been removed due to a request from Tehran attorny, and his execution is postponed.
