Iran Hangs Man Accused of Spying for Israel
28 December 2010
The hanging of Ali Akbar Siadat took place at Tehran's Evin prison early Tuesday and was announced by the Tehran prosecutor's office. Prosecutor Abbas Jaffar Dolatabadi told Iranian TV several days ago that Siadat was accused of giving classified information to Israeli spies.
Another man, Ali Saremi, was also hanged Monday. Iranian officials have repeatedly accused him of belonging to the People's Mojahedin organization.
Both hangings come several days after Iran postponed a decision to hang a Kurdish student Sunday, following an international outcry. Student Habibilah Latifi is accused of belonging to the Kurdish separatist group PJAK.
Al Arabiya TV reports that Iran has hanged an estimated 171 people since the beginning of 2010. The group International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran also claims that 300 people were hanged secretly this year in Mashad's Vakil Abad prison.
Former Iranian president Abolhassan Bani Sadr explained to VOA why the Iranian government is cracking down.
He said the Iranian government is having major domestic troubles following its decision to cut subsidies on consumer products, causing inflation and prompting it to turn cities into armed camps to avoid a popular backlash. He argued that the government needs to scare its people to cope with the situation and that hanging a man accused of being a Mossad agent, even though no one is sure of the claim, is a simple act that can be justified as patriotism.
最新
2013-11-27
2013-11-27
2013-11-27
2013-11-27
2013-11-27
2013-11-27