Iran’s Supreme Court Confirms Death Sentence for Woman and Man Convicted of ‘Illicit Relationship’
The confirmation of a death sentence for a woman and a married man convicted of an illicit relationship by Iran’s Supreme Court has been reported by Times of Israel. The media outlet published details of this ruling on Sunday, citing the Shargh newspaper.
The Shargh newspaper reported on Saturday, November 15, that a 33-year-old woman named Sarah had a relationship with a 27-year-old man named Maysam. Both were married and became the subject of prosecution following a complaint filed by Maysam’s wife. Subsequently, Maysam’s wife withdrew her complaint, but Sarah’s father-in-law filed a complaint against both her and Maysam, accusing them of “adultery of the chaste.”
According to Islamic Republic laws, if a man and woman who have a permanent spouse engage in sexual relations and have no obstacle to relations with their spouses, they have committed “adultery of the chaste.” Article 225 of the Islamic Penal Code prescribes stoning as punishment for this crime. According to the Islamic Republic’s interpretation of Islamic law, the sentence for “adultery of the chaste” is stoning, but since 2013, judges have been permitted to use hanging instead of stoning for those sentenced to death.
According to the Shargh newspaper’s report, Maysam and Sarah initially denied the sexual relationship charges, but after their mobile phones, which came into police possession following their arrest, were examined, they confessed to the sexual relationship.
Following the issuance of the death sentence in court and the appeal by both defendants against the ruling, the case was referred to Iran’s Supreme Court, where the judges confirmed the death sentence.
It remains unclear how the death sentence for these two individuals will be carried out.
According to Amnesty International’s report, the Islamic Republic’s government executed at least 246 death sentences last year, the highest number among countries in the world after China.
Source: Voice of America
