إعدام أربعة أشخاص بسبب بيع مشروبات كحولية مغشوشة
Iran Executes Four for Selling Tainted Alcohol as Black Market Trade Turns Deadly
Karaj, Iran – In a stark reminder of the dangers of Iran’s alcohol black market, four individuals were executed Wednesday for selling tainted liquor that resulted in the deaths of 17 people last year.
The executions, which took place in Karaj’s central prison, were confirmed by Mizan Online, the media arm of Iran’s judiciary. The four men were sentenced to death in September 2023 after being found guilty of selling adulterated alcohol that led to the tragic deaths and hospitalization of at least 190 others in Alborz province, where Karaj is located.
This incident underscores the grim reality of Iran’s alcohol ban, implemented after the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The prohibition has fueled a thriving black market where bootlegged and counterfeit alcohol is often laced with dangerous substances like methanol, a cheaper but toxic alternative to ethanol.
Tragically, cases of fatal alcohol poisoning are not uncommon in Iran. Recently, authorities reported over 40 deaths and hundreds of hospitalizations in northern Iran linked to tainted alcohol consumption. Five individuals were arrested in connection with that incident, with four facing potential death sentences.
Iran’s use of capital punishment, particularly in cases like this, has drawn criticism from international human rights organizations. According to Amnesty International, Iran ranks second only to China in the number of executions carried out annually.
The recent tragedies highlight the complex social and legal issues surrounding Iran’s alcohol ban. While the government aims to prevent alcohol consumption, the demand persists, driving desperate individuals to a dangerous black market where profit often outweighs safety.