Iran’s judiciary moves to radically cut executions

Iran’s judiciary chief Ayatollah Sadegh Amoli Larijani has ordered a stop to executions of drug convicts in a remarkable move that many believe may decrease executions by 90%. On Jan. 9, Larijani ordered that all death sentences of prisoners convicted of drug crimes be halted and their cases be reviewed.

The new order was announced to all judicial authorities across the country. Prosecutor General Mohammad Jafar Montazeri is tasked with monitoring the enforcement of the order.

The important move comes after Iran’s parliament passed an amendment to the law on combating drugs in the fall of 2017. Based on the amendment, the death penalty for a number of prisoners convicted of drug crimes will be canceled and prisoners will instead face imprisonment and fines.

According to the new law, only those who participate in producing or distributing more than 50 kilograms (110 pounds) of “traditional drugs” (opium) or more than 2 kilograms of heroin and 3 kilograms of methamphetamines will face the death penalty.