Iran: Death Penalty/Imminent Execution for Drinking alcohol

Amnesty International: Urgent Action

Karim Fahimi was sentenced to death in June. The sentence has now been upheld by the Supreme Court, and he could be executed at any time.

IRAN Karim Fahimi, also known as Karim Shalo (m)

Karim Fahimi, a Kurd, who is married with two young children, was reportedly sentenced to death for drinking alcohol, by a court in the city of Sardasht, western Iran. It was at least the third time he had been convicted of the offence: under article 174 of the Iranian Penal Code, the penalty for consuming any intoxicant is 100 lashes; under article 179, this penalty may be handed down twice, but a third conviction carries the death penalty. READ MORE

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Amnesty International opposes the death penalty in all cases as the ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment, in violation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The organization has recorded 72 executions in Iran so far this year, although the true figure may be much higher.