Iran wins hanging contest

Iran had the highest rate of execution in 2008. Congratulations, Mahmoud and Ayatollahs. KSA was a close 2nd - maybe 2009? Iraq was 5th, behind Libya. The number of worldwide executions doubled last year from 2007. Thanks Molly and As'ad for the links.

Executing justice
Mar 24th 2009
From Economist.com

Where the death penalty was used most last year

AT LEAST 2,390 people were executed in 25 countries last year, according to a report published on Tuesday March 24th by Amnesty International, a human-rights group. China carried out at least 1,718 executions, 72% of the global total—the actual number (as in many other countries) is believed to be much higher. But if the populations of the 15 countries that carry out the most executions are taken into account, Iran and Saudi Arabia emerge as more zealous employers of capital punishment than China.

AFP