Iran's 'Hanging Judge'

After his dealings with the Kurds, Khalkhali was ordered by Ayatollah Khomeini to crack down on drug dealers, a task he performed with his customary élan. But Khalkhali's bloodthirsty views soon began to embarrass the revolutionary leadership and in December 1980 he was forced to resign because of his failure to account for millions of dollars worth of money seized in raids on drug traffickers and amassed in fines.