Corpun file 26137 at www.corpun.com
NCRI Iran News, 1 July 2015
480 sentenced to lashing in Iran city for eating during Ramadan
Man being lashed in public in Iran, August 7, 2014
NCRI -- At least 500 people have been arrested and the majority sentenced to flogging in Shiraz, southern Iran, for failing to observe a fast during daytime in the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, the regime's deputy prosecutor general in the city has said.
At least two sites in the city serving food to people during daytime were sealed down and two vehicles have been impounded by the para-military bassij force as part of the regime's strict measures to prevent people from breaking their fast during the day, Ali Keshavarzi said.
He said that since Ramadan began on June 18, at least 500 people caught eating were arrested. Twenty were later released with warning and the remaining 480 had their sentence carried out within 24 hours. The majority were sentenced to flogging, he said, the state-run Tabnak News reported on Monday.
Another 2,699 individuals received verbal warnings and 261 others were given written notices by the Bassij, Keshavarzi said.
Anyone in Iran caught eating or drinking in public during daytime in Ramadan may receive 74 lashes in addition to a jail term of up to two months, judiciary officials of the regime have threatened. Special patrols are stationed at streets and public parks to deal with those who drink, eat or smoke in public.
Last year, a Christian man in Iran had his lips burnt with a cigarette for eating during the day in Ramadan. The savage punishment was carried out in public in the city of Kermanshah.
Public floggings have soared in Iran in recent months in a bid to spread fear amongst the country's youth and prevent public expressions of dissent.
The number of floggings across Iran is much higher than officially announced.
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