<p>“A drug trafficker named Zahra Bahrami, daughter of Ali, was hanged early this morning after she was convicted of selling and possessing drugs,” the prosecutor’s office said.<br />Bahrami, a 46-year-old Iranian-born naturalised Dutch citizen, was reportedly arrested in December 2009 after joining a protest against the government while visiting relatives in the Islamic republic.<br /><br />The prosecutor’s office on Saturday confirmed that she had been arrested for “security crimes.” But elaborating on her alleged drug smuggling, the office said Bahrami had used her Dutch connections to smuggle narcotics into Iran.<br /><br />“The convict, a member of an international drug gang, smuggled cocaine to Iran using her Dutch connections and had twice shipped and distributed cocaine inside the country,” it said. During a search of her house, authorities found 450 grams of the cocaine and 420 grams of opium, the office said, adding that investigations revealed she had sold 150 grams of cocaine in Iran.<br /><br />“The revolutionary court sentenced her to death for possessing 450 grams of cocaine and participating in the selling of 150 grams of cocaine,” the prosecutor’s office said.<br />The Netherlands had been seeking details about Bahrami’s case and had accused the Iranian authorities of refusing the Dutch embassy access to the prisoner because they did not recognise her dual nationality.<br /><br />On January 5, Dutch Foreign Minister Uri Rosenthal expressed “extreme concern” about Bahrami, and said that he had “asked the Iranian authorities to provide immediate clarification” about her case.<br /><br />“We insist on information, the possibility to provide her with consular assistance, and a fair course of justice,” Rosenthal said in a statement at the time. Dutch broadcaster Radio Netherlands Worldwide had also reported earlier this month that Bahrami was awaiting trial in a second capital case in which she was accused of membership of an armed opposition group.</p>
<p>“A drug trafficker named Zahra Bahrami, daughter of Ali, was hanged early this morning after she was convicted of selling and possessing drugs,” the prosecutor’s office said.<br />Bahrami, a 46-year-old Iranian-born naturalised Dutch citizen, was reportedly arrested in December 2009 after joining a protest against the government while visiting relatives in the Islamic republic.<br /><br />The prosecutor’s office on Saturday confirmed that she had been arrested for “security crimes.” But elaborating on her alleged drug smuggling, the office said Bahrami had used her Dutch connections to smuggle narcotics into Iran.<br /><br />“The convict, a member of an international drug gang, smuggled cocaine to Iran using her Dutch connections and had twice shipped and distributed cocaine inside the country,” it said. During a search of her house, authorities found 450 grams of the cocaine and 420 grams of opium, the office said, adding that investigations revealed she had sold 150 grams of cocaine in Iran.<br /><br />“The revolutionary court sentenced her to death for possessing 450 grams of cocaine and participating in the selling of 150 grams of cocaine,” the prosecutor’s office said.<br />The Netherlands had been seeking details about Bahrami’s case and had accused the Iranian authorities of refusing the Dutch embassy access to the prisoner because they did not recognise her dual nationality.<br /><br />On January 5, Dutch Foreign Minister Uri Rosenthal expressed “extreme concern” about Bahrami, and said that he had “asked the Iranian authorities to provide immediate clarification” about her case.<br /><br />“We insist on information, the possibility to provide her with consular assistance, and a fair course of justice,” Rosenthal said in a statement at the time. Dutch broadcaster Radio Netherlands Worldwide had also reported earlier this month that Bahrami was awaiting trial in a second capital case in which she was accused of membership of an armed opposition group.</p>