Most of the clerical regime's leaders are involved in the smuggling and distribution of drugs. Not only have they accumulated enormous wealth in the past years through such means, but they encourage the use of drugs among the country's young people to distract them from engaging in acts of dissent. Addicting political prisoners in order to break their resistance is also among the most sinister methods of the mullahs' regime.
For these reasons, despite widespread executions of drug smugglers not affiliated with the regime's factions, addiction has continuously increased and taken a tremendous toll among the country's younger generation.
According to official statistics, at least five million Iranians are addicted to drugs, 60% of whom are under 30 years of age. The Assembly of Experts Deputy Speaker mullah Ibrahim Amini, told the daily Jomhouri Islami on August 13, that addiction is rampant among those under 25.
The number of students addicted to drugs doubled last year compared to the previous year, Jomhouri Islami reported on August 9. During the same period, the number of persons jailed or sent to rehabilitation centers on drug-related charges increased 22% and 28% respectively.
The clerical regime's Prosecutor General announced on September 30, that the punishment for drug traffickers had increased 10-fold and that those possessing 30 grams of heroin or five kilos of opium will be sentenced to death. The head of the State Prisons Organization acknowledged on October 12, that 96,000 inmates or more than 60% of the country's prisoners are held on drug charges.
Secretariat of the National Council of Resistance of Iran
November 25, 1998
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