Iran moves to reduces number of executions

Iran wants to reduce the number of "unnecessary executions" it carries out, a spokesman for the Islamic republic's judiciary said. "Certain measures have been sent to parliament for approval. In particular, regarding cases involving unnecessary executions. We hope to see a reduction of such sentences," IRNA quoted him as saying. Iran has executed at least 140 people this year, according to Amnesty International. Organizations such as Human Rights Watch have been especially critical of Iran's execution of minors."Iran leads all countries of the world in executing juvenile offenders," the group said in a statement last week. "Figures available from human-rights lawyers in Iran indicate that at least 130 juvenile offenders are on death row in Iran. Two juvenile offenders have already been executed this year." http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/05/10/iran.executions.death.penalty/