Embassy says it defends Iranians' rights in China

Beijing, Jan 9, IRNA – Iran's embassy in Beijing said that a number of Iranians have been convicted to death in primary courts in China, adding that the embassy defends its citizens' rights.

Reacting to reports in a number of websites concerning execution of 10 Iranian drug smugglers in China, the embassy said that no Iranian has been arrested on this charge since a year ago. But based on existing information in the embassy, 36 Iranian citizens have been in Chinese prisons on charge of drug smuggling since three years ago.

It says that the average age of the condemned persons is 25 years and that most of them are not professional drug smugglers, but are passengers who smugglers have put drugs in their baggage.

The embassy explained that a number of Iranians have been condemned to execution in primary courts, but their final verdicts have not been issued yet and their file will be reconsidered in Appeal Courts.
The embassy warned Iranians, who intend to travel to China, to be careful not to be manipulated by mischievous people./end