SUSPECT EXECUTED FOR PASSING INTELLIGENCE INFORMATION TO ISRAEL

TEHRAN, SEPTEMBER 19 /SRNA/ – Iranian authorities executed a man over alleged espionage for Israel, Iran's Mizan news agency reported.

According to the report, the court accused the man of passing intelligence on military facilities and personnel.

Human rights groups have for years criticized Iran's extensive use of the death penalty and accused the authorities of using executions as a means of intimidation.

They have also said that Iranian authorities frequently rely on broadly worded charges such as espionage, endangering national security or blasphemy.

According to the Washington-based Abdorrahman Boroumand Center for Human Rights in Iran, Iranian authorities have executed more than 1,000 people since the beginning of the year. DPA noted that the figure could not be independently verified.

Amnesty International said at least 2,159 people were executed in Iran last year, the highest number recorded since 1981.