| Submit your comments on this article |
| Iran |
| Iran lifts death sentence on Aghajari |
| 2003-02-14 |
| Iran's Supreme Court has lifted the death sentence ordered in the case of a university professor whose sentencing provoked nationwide demonstrations. Hashem Aghajari, a history professor at Tehran's Teachers Training University, had been condemned to death for insulting Islam and questioning clerical rule during a speech in June. "The death sentence against Aghajari has been revoked by a majority of votes by the review judges. Three out of four of the judges voted to revoke the sentence," said Ayatollah Mohammad Sajjadi, one of the judges who heard the appeal in the Supreme Court in Qom. "The decision came after weeks of careful study and scrutinizing of Aghajari's entire speech. Three out of four judges decided that the charges against Aghajari was not compatible with his speech." He said the fourth judge opposed the lifting the sentence. "Well, I think we should kill him. Can't have people running around saying ayatollahs aren't infallible, can we? I mean, if the Pope's infallible, why can't we be?" Hard-line clerics warned this month that they would execute Hashem Aghajari themselves if the court overturned the death sentence. It was not clear Friday what they intended to do. I'd guess they intend to kill him. That's what they said they were gonna do. "I say we should kill him!" "Well, you're infallable, so I guess we gotta..." "I don't think we should." "You're infallible, too, so we shouldn't. But he's infallible and sez we should..." "Careful, Ardeshir. Your turban's starting to smoke!" |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |