A court in the Iranian province of Khorasan has sentenced two local men to death after they were caught drinking alcohol for the third time, according to Eurasiareview.com
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The men's names were not released. It remained unclear whether they could still appeal the sentence, which a local judge said was "in process," said the report citing Iran's local ISNA news agency.
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Alcohol consumption is banned in Iran in line with Islamic law, but is nevertheless reported to be on the rise due to a thriving black market, the report said.
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Punishment for first- and second-time drinkers in Iran could include flogging, while being caught inebriated for the third time could result in capital punishment.
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However, actual executions of drinkers in Iran are exceedingly rare. In 2008, a man was sentenced to death having been caught under the weather for the fourth time and making a ruckus, but was later acquitted.
