Three young men were hanged in public in northern Iran today

Iran Human Rights, April 14: Three men were hanged in public in the northern Iranian city of Babolsar today, reproted the state run Iranian news agency Fars.

The men who were identified as A.A. (24), M. V. (25) and A. T. (30), were convicted of rape and acts against chastity, according to the report.

The executions took place on the "Imam Ali" square of Babolsar early this morning.

Along with today’s executions, 17 people have been hanged in one week in Iran. Six of these executions have been carried out in public.

The charges have not been confirmed by independent sources.

It seems that the Iranian authorities have started a new wave of public exeutions in order to spread fear among the people.