another convicted thief, state radio reported Sunday, bringing to nine the number of amputations since April.
Cutting off the hands of thieves has been rare in Iran in recent years, but the recent surge suggests conservatives in the Judiciary are pushing the punishment now because of a reported rise in thievery.
A week ago, a judge ordered the same punishment for a man who stole from a candy shop, though that ruling can still be appealed and has not yet been carried out.
Sunday’s report said the 32-year-old convict, whose hand was cut off at a prison in Yazd, had committed four robberies and other crimes. It did not elaborate or identify the prisoner by name. Amputation is only applicable after repeated thefts.
There were no details on how the punishment was carried out. There have been conflicting reports in the past, with some saying amputations were done in the early 1980s without any medical procedures. Other reports said they were carried out in the presence of a doctor. A recent news report said they would now be carried out with the prisoner receiving anesthesia.
In the last two cases, the news reports said an audience of fellow inmates was assembled to witness the amputations, suggesting an emphasis on using the punishment as a deterrent.
The punishment has been part of Iran’s penal code since 1980. According to published reports collected by the Iran Times, which probably are not complete, Sunday’s amputation was the 43rd since 1997, meaning an average of three per year—but nine in the last seven months.
The reporting of the punishment on state-run radio indicated it had approval from senior Iranian leaders, though there has been no official government comment about any push to apply the punishment more frequently.
Critics say amputations, stonings, public executions and floggings all hurt Iran’s international image and reflect badly on Islam.