Iran, which executes more people per capita than any other country in the world, is taking preliminary steps to reduce the use of the death penalty in drug-related cases, although many believe it will be difficult to implement such a change.

Iran's staggering number of drug-related executions in the country is on pace to exceed 1,000 for 2015, according to the UN investigator for Iran, Ahmed Shaheed. In July, Iran officially announced the executions of 246 people, but Amnesty International placed the number then at 694.

The Iranian parliament's website reported Dec. 8 that 70 members of parliament signed on to a bill to eliminate the death penalty for nonviolent drug smuggling in the country. Many activists and Iranians on social media welcomed the news. On the other hand, officials who spoke to Shargh Daily in a Dec. 17 article said change will take time and face stiff opposition. There are 290 members of parliament.

Mohammad Ali Asfanany, a member of parliament’s Judicial and Legal Committee, told Shargh there have been no sessions devoted to the issue since the proposal was presented. Asfanany seemed skeptical that anything will be done soon, saying, “Entering this issue, we must be observant of sensitivities because this is a very difficult task.”