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TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - Twenty-five men were publicly flogged in Iran after a court convicted them of consuming and selling alcohol, a judicial official said Saturday.

Sixteen men were found guilty of consuming alcohol, which is forbidden under Islam, and given 80 lashes each, the Tehran judicial official told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. Nine others were given 70 lashes each for selling and transporting alcohol.

The sentences were carried out Friday at the capital's Darband Square, at the foothills of the Alborz mountains, and were witnessed by hundreds of people.

The official said the public flogging was meant to discourage the breaking of Islamic rules.

Severe punishments have rarely been carried out in public for several years, but in recent weeks the hard-line judiciary has ordered a number of hangings and floggings in public places.

Hard-liners have apparently been angered by what they see as a flouting of strict religious rules under the moderate President Mohammad Khatami (news - web sites), who won a second four-year term in June on promises of promoting social, political and economic reforms.

Saturday July 21 10:48 AM ET

25 Men Publicly Flogged in Iran
By AFSHIN VALINEJAD, Associated Press Writer

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