HRANA News Agency – Reliable sources in Iran have reported that a few groups of prisoners have been executed secretly in the city of Mashhad, Razavi Khorasan Province, from July 23, 2011 to September 22, 2011. Iranian Human Rights Organization has announced that its sources inside the country have reported that at least 19 prisoners were hanged secretly during this time.
According to these reports, two groups of prisoners, each consisting of 7 inmates, were secretly hanged in Vakil-Abad Prison on August 11, 2011 and September 20, 2011. Although Iranian government claims that during the month of Ramadan, no executions occur in Iran for religious reasons, August 11, 2011 coincided with the 11th day of Ramadan. Previously, Iranian Human Rights Organization’s reports indicated that other hangings also took place during this month.
Furthermore, at least 5 other inmates were executed together in Vakil-Abad Prison between August 11, 2011 and September 20, 2011. The exact number of inmates and the precise date are not known yet. All of the prisoners were convicted of crimes related to narcotics.