Iran hangs 2 child rapists in public

TEHRAN – Iran on Sunday hanged in public in the western city of Kermanshahon two men convicted of child rape, the official IRNA news agency reported.

The men sent to gallows were identified as P. Mohammadi Pashterizeh and A. Namaki, convicted respectively of raping a child and filming the act and of raping a nine-year-old child.

IRNA reported that the crowd gathered in the square where the executions were carried out shouted, “Judiciary, thanks … thanks.”

No additional information was given.

Iran says the death penalty is essential to maintain law and order, and that it is applied only after exhaustive judicial proceedings.

The latest hangings bring to 145 the number of executions reported in Iran so far in 2011, according to an AFP count based on media and official reports.

Iranian media reported 179 hangings last year. But international human rights groups say the actual number was much higher, making the Islamic republic second only to China in the number of people it put to death.