Abolition of Death Penalty for Some Current Drug Offenders Approved by Iranian Parliament

On Sunday, August 13, Iranian parliament representatives approved changes to the anti-drug law, which limit the death penalty for drug-related crimes, including for those currently sentenced to death. According to the official news agency of the Islamic Consultative Assembly, with the addition of a clause to the anti-drug law ratified in November 1988, the death sentences for those convicted of drug-related offenses will be converted to 'first-degree imprisonment for up to thirty years' and financial penalties, considering certain conditions. Among the conditions that prevent the conversion of the death penalty to first-degree imprisonment under this law are the use of cold weapons or possession of firearms 'during confrontation with agents,' leading, financial support, investment, or use of children under 18 for trafficking, and having a confirmed death sentence, life imprisonment, or imprisonment for more than 15 years. Thus, if a person sentenced to death does not meet these conditions, their sentence will be converted to 'first-degree imprisonment for up to thirty years' and the payment of a financial penalty. Based on the clause added by the representatives to the anti-drug law, there will also be reductions in the sentences of those convicted of life imprisonment who do not meet the conditions outlined in this clause. One of the conditions considered for issuing the death penalty for drug-related crimes is the 'manufacturing, production, distribution, sale, and importation' of more than 50 kilograms of traditional drugs or more than two kilograms of industrial drugs. This bill was approved with 165 votes in favor, 22 against, and 7 abstentions. It is unclear exactly how many drug offenders will be released from death or life imprisonment after the implementation of this bill, but previously, the spokesperson for the Judicial Commission of the Parliament stated that with the amendment of the anti-drug law, 'more than five thousand prisoners will be saved from execution, and their sentences will be changed to 20 to 30 years in prison.' Recently, Amnesty International and the Boroumand Foundation issued a joint statement criticizing the changes in the death penalty conversion plan for drug traffickers, calling for the complete abolition of the death penalty for drug offenders and urging parliament representatives to reconsider this plan. Amnesty International and the Boroumand Foundation stated in their statement that, according to Iranian officials, the number of executed drug offenders from 1988 to now is nearly 10,000. According to the current law, the manufacture, distribution, sale, or importation of more than 5 kilograms of hashish, cannabis, opium, opium extract, burnt or residue opium, and more than 30 grams of heroin, morphine, cocaine, and other chemical derivatives of morphine and cocaine carries the death penalty.