Iran:, an Execution in Publicإعدام شابين علناً بالشنق في إيران

Iran: A Crime on YouTube, an Execution in Public

Two young men, Alireza Mafiha and Mohammad Ali Sarvari, were executed by hanging in Tehran, Iran in the early hours of January 20, 2013 before the eyes of public spectators [warning: graphic photos] who had gathered to watch, according to the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA).

Crime and YouTube

The hunt for the alleged muggers was given top priority after security camera footage was posted on YouTube towards the end of 2012 showing four youths on two motorbikes who ambushed a pedestrian, threatening him with a knife and taking his belongings.

Four men were soon arrested and tried. Mafiha and Sarvari were sentenced to death, and the other two were each sentenced to 10 years in prison, five years in exile, and 74 lashes.

Over a fistful of dollars

One of the powerful images (above) from Sunday's execution is from ISNA and shows one of the young men before his execution apparently resting his head on the shoulder of his executioner, .

while the hooded man appears to be consoling him with a hand on the shoulder.

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The collage compares the two alleged muggers executed on Sunday with the fugitive former managing director of the Iranian National Bank: “One stole 20 dollars and ended up in the gallows, in his early 20s. The other stole 2.6 BILLION dollars and is enjoying his time in the Caribbean and Canada.”