Reuters, Tehran, 22 December 2010 – An Iranian man was given 80 lashes in public for drinking alcohol, ISNA news agency reported on Wednesday, a punishment aimed at discouraging others from such behaviour outlawed in the Islamic Republic.

Under Iran’s Islamic law, alcohol is banned and its consumption can be punishable by lashes, but beatings in public are relatively unusual.

ISNA said the lashes were delivered in a public square in the city of Ramshir, southwestern Iran.