AFP: 10/19/2004
TEHRAN, Oct 19 (AFP) - The head of Iran's conservative judiciary, Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahrudi, quashed a stoning sentence for a woman convicted of adultery and an amputation sentence for a thief, local media reported Tuesday.
The woman, identified only as Seema, was sentenced to stoning and 100 lashes for adultery and 15 years in prison for being an accomplice in her husband's murder.
The husband was reportedly killed by one of the woman's lovers, Shargh daily reported. Shahrudi only quashed the stoning sentence.
Shahrudi also ordered a review into the amputation of a 20-year old Iranian man, convicted of being a "Mohareb" (God's enemy) for armed robbery.
As a result, the sentence was revoked and his convictions reduced to ordinary theft, student news agency ISNA reported. The man, who was not identified, used to steal cars dressed as a woman.
Earlier this month, Shahrudi had given a last-minute reprieve to a woman convicted of murdering and chopping up her husband.
In the case of adultery, the judge can decide on death by stoning, although no such case has been officially reported for more than a year and the sentence has apparently been suspended since the end of 2002 under pressure from the West, particularly European states.
Still, murder, armed robbery, rape, apostasy and serious drug trafficking are all punishable by death in Iran.
At least 85 people have been executed in Iran this year according to reports in Iran's main newspapers and other media monitored by AFP.
Amnesty International has reported that at least 108 executions took place in 2003, and 113 in 2002. (Courtecy : Turkish Press)
