Thief’s hand amputated in Iran

TEHRAN - One hand of a convicted thief was cut off in the central Iranian city of Yazd, Mehr news agency reported Sunday.

The unidentified 32-year-old had been convicted three times, it said. The amputation took place on Saturday inside the Yazd prison in front of other convicted thieves, Mehr reported.

According to Islamic laws, amputation is the punishment for those convicted of repeated robberies.

Last week a man has had one of his hands cut off for repeated robbery, including stealing chocolate from a pastry in Tehran.