Posted on 07/27/2005 7:43:10 AM PDT by Valin
LONDON, July 27 (IranMania) - Two Iranian border guards were killed and three wounded in a rocket-propelled grenade attack launched by alcohol bootleggers on the Iran-Iraq border, local media reported.
"Two soldiers were killed and three others wounded in a rocket-propelled grenade attack at the border post of Chaku," on the border with Iraqi Kurdistan in the west of the country, the conservative Kayhan daily reported.
According to Kayhan, the attack followed a tightening of security at the border aimed at thwarting bootleggers coming from Iraq.
The paper said that more than 1.15 mln bottles of liquor had been seized in West Azerbaijan province, which abuts both Iraq and Turkey, in the four months from March, more than in all of last year.
The manufacture and consumption of alcohol has been prohibited in Iran since the Islamic revolution of 1979 and remains punishable by fines and lashes.
Alcohol consumption has greatly increased in recent years and police regularly announce significant seizures, which, officially, are destroyed.
Some alcohol consumed in Iran is homemade, but there has also been a strong increase in alcohol smuggled in from neighboring countries, especially Iraqi Kurdistan.
On July 5, Iran's conservative-controlled parliament adopted a bill doubling sentences for alcohol manufacturers and smugglers.
According to the bill, alcohol manufacturers or sellers are subject to between three and 12 months in prison along with 74 lashes and a fine equivalent to twice the value of the alcohol seized.
The law remains unchanged for consumers: two to six months in prison plus lashes.
Since the regime has been fighting against protests in the Kurdish area lately, it's hard to know if the people killed were really bootleggers or not.
"Alcohol consumption has greatly increased in recent years and police regularly announce significant seizures, which, officially, are destroyed."
....But unofficially consumed
Stiffen enlightened laws by adding amputation.
"Alcohol consumption has greatly increased in recent years
Shocking news...NOT
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.