Convicted murderer publicly hung in TehranSeptember 20, 2011 - 11:33 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Iran on Tuesday, September 20, publicly hanged a convicted murderer at a square in the capital Tehran, AFP reported citing local media. The convict, Sajad Karimi, had confessed to shooting a doctor outside his practice in a populous eastern neighborhood of Tehran a year ago. The doctor, a cardiologist and university lecturer, died shortly afterwards of his wounds. Karimi had said he planned the revenge attack on the cardiologist, who had been his mother's surgeon, following her death. "I believed the doctor had made a mistake," Karimi was quoted as saying by Fars news agency moments before going to the gallows. The hanging brings to 201 the number of executions reported in Iran so far this year. 179 hangings last year but international human rights groups say the actual number was much higher, ranking the Islamic republic second only to China in the number of people it executed in 2010. Tehran says the death penalty is essential to maintain law and order, and that it is applied only after exhaustive judicial proceedings. Murder, rape, armed robbery, drug trafficking and adultery are among the crimes punishable by death in Iran. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Government reveals details from Pashinyan’s meeting in border village Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has met with a group of residents of a border village in Armenia’s northern Tavush province Narek Manasyan wins European Boxing Championships silver for Armenia Armenia’s Narek Manasyan (92kg) won Armenia’s second silver medal at the European Boxing Championships 2024 on April 28. Blinken urges Azerbaijan to continue negotiations with Armenia Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken has urged Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to continue negotiations with Armenia. Pashinyan, Blinken talk Armenia-U.S. ties over the phone Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had a phone conversation with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on April 28, Pashinyan’s office reports. |