Iran says executed Sunnis were ‘takfiris’

By Mustafa Melih Ahishali

TEHRAN

Iranian authorities have defended the execution of a number of Sunni prisoners, saying the executed persons were “takfiris”.

Media reports said that scores of Sunnis were executed on Tuesday at Rajai-Shahr prison in the northwestern city of Karaj, 20 km west of Tehran,

While Freedom Messenger website, which follows human rights violations in Iran, said at least 28 Sunnis were executed, the Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) put the number at 11.

A statement released by the public prosecutor in Kurdistan province on Wednesday said that the executed Sunnis were members of the Tawhid and Jihad group, which Tehran classified as a “terrorist” group, according to Iran’s Tasnim News Agency.

The agency, however, did not say how many Sunnis were executed by Iranian authorities.

Shia Iran is second only to China in the number of executions carried out.

In 2015, the Islamic Republic put to death at least 977 people, according to figures from human rights group Amnesty International.

By Mustafa Melih Ahishali

TEHRAN

Iranian authorities have defended the execution of a number of Sunni prisoners, saying the executed persons were “takfiris”.

Media reports said that scores of Sunnis were executed on Tuesday at Rajai-Shahr prison in the northwestern city of Karaj, 20 km west of Tehran,

While Freedom Messenger website, which follows human rights violations in Iran, said at least 28 Sunnis were executed, the Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) put the number at 11.

The agency, however, did not say how many Sunnis were executed by Iranian authorities.

Shia Iran is second only to China in the number of executions carried out.

In 2015, the Islamic Republic put to death at least 977 people, according to figures from human rights group Amnesty International.