Iran news in brief, January 17, 2019 1- Senior Iran Judiciary official criticizes low hand amputation rates for thieves Iran Regime’s Attorney-General said that the low numbers of hand amputation punishments for thieves in Iran as a result of human rights condemnations was “unfortunate”. In comments carried by the Fars News Agency, Mohammad Jafar Montazeri said that the hands of thieves had to be amputated but “unfortunately, to avoid being condemned on human rights issues by the United Nations, we have abandoned some of the divine laws.” The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps' General and deputy commander of the Law Enforcement Force of the Iranian regime, Ayoub Soleimani, said on Wednesday that there are nearly 200,000 professional thieves and burglars across Iran responsible for 60%-65% of thefts. Yet, Montazeri has also admitted that, under backbreaking economic pressures, many faithful and God-fearing, poverty-stricken people might also be forced to commit theft. ...