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Communist Vietnam's secret death penalty conveyor belt: How country trails only China and Iran for 'astonishing' number of executions

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Prisoners are dragged from their cells at 4am without warning to be given a lethal injection Vietnam's use of the death penalty has been thrust into the spotlight after a real estate tycoon was on Thursday sentenced to be executed in one of the biggest corruption cases in the country's history. Truong My Lan, a businesswoman who chaired a sprawling company that developed luxury apartments, hotels, offices and shopping malls, was arrested in 2022.

Iran: Execution and Extorsion

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Public execution in Iran (file photo)
Iranian authorities have reportedly asked for money in exchange for the bodies of 2 executed prisoners.

In May 2014, 2 brothers, Abdol Jamal Zehi, 26, and Hamid Jamal Zehi, 22, were reportedly hanged to death in Chabahar Prison in southern Iran on drug trafficking charges. Iranian authorities reportedly refused to hand over the bodies of these 2 young men until their family paid 11 million Tomans (approximately $4,000).

An informed source, who wishes to remain anonymous, told HRANA that the bereaved mother of these 2 brothers was finally able to recover the bodies after raising 5 million Tomans ( approximately $1,600). "She had to raise the money by pleading with family members also going into debt," says the source.

Iranian authorities carried out the executions in secret and no official news agency in Iran reported on it.

Source: Persian2English, June 12, 2014
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