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Iranian regime said on Friday that it would execute at least 10 “trouble-makers” in the coming days to combat “insecurity” in society. “Within the next several days, God’s verdict will be applied in the cases of more than 10 trouble-makers”, said Seyyed Ibrahim Re’isi, Iran’s deputy judiciary chief. He said that the sentences of these individuals had already been upheld by the State Supreme Court.“In order to root out insecurity once and for all, there must be an unrelenting campaign to combat this problem”, he said at Friday prayers in Tehran. His remarks were reported by the official news agency IRNA.
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The international human rights group Amnesty International accused the Iranian regime on Wednesday of continuing to execute minors.At least 71 child offenders were awaiting execution in Iran, Amnesty said in a report entitled, “Iran: The last executioner of children”.It said that more child offenders had been executed in Iran than in any other countries since 1990. In its report, Amnesty listed the names of the 71 child offenders known to be facing the death penalty, but noted that the total number could be much higher “as many death penalty cases in Iran are believed to go unreported”. Of the 24 child offenders recorded as having been executed since 1990, 11 were still under the age of 18 at the time of their execution while the others were either kept on death row until they had reached 18 or were convicted and sentenced after reaching that age, the group said.
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The Guardian reported today that Iranians set fire to a dozen petrol stations in Tehran in the early hours yesterday, angered by the sudden start of fuel rationing, a step that threatens to further increase the unpopularity of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.After the violence security was strengthened at several stations, and there was calm as Iranians lined up to fill their tanks under the new restrictions, which limit private drivers to 100 liters (22 gallons) a month.The government has been warning for weeks that it would start rationing, but the announcement on Tuesday, only three hours before the measure went into effect at midnight, sent Iranians rushing to fill up.The rationing is part of a government attempt to reduce billions of dollars in subsidies it pays to keep petrol prices low. Iran is one of the world's biggest oil producers, but has few refineries and imports more than 50% of its petrol needs. The government says money saved from subsidies can go to building refineries, improving public transportation and job creation. "This man Ahmadinejad has damaged all things. The timing of the rationing is just one case," said Reza Khorrami, a teacher who was among those lining up at a Tehran petrol station.
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According to BBC News on Friday, Iran's top security body has ordered local journalists not to report on problems caused by petrol rationing, a day after its surprise introduction. Angry motorists have reacted violently to the curbs, attacking up to 19 petrol stations in the capital, Tehran. There are still long queues outside filling stations. The authorities switched off the mobile text messaging system in Tehran overnight to prevent motorists from organizing more protests. The BBC's Frances Harrison in Tehran said that many Iranians are already on edge because of a recent sharp rise in the cost of living. During Wednesday's unrest, motorists threw stones and shouted slogans against President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
