a youth in Iran is appealing a death sentence...

a youth in Iran is appealing a death sentence and the case is being reviewed, judiciary officials said after the European Union called for the execution to be halted. Judiciary spokesman Alireza Jamshidi said the Islamic Republic did not execute youths under 18 and sought to resolve any such cases through reconciliation and the payment of blood money, in line with Sharia law. 'The case of Taseb is at the appeal stage and the verdict is being reviewed,' Jamshidi told a news conference. A judiciary official said Taseb was convicted of murder. The official said the juvenile's case was transferred to a higher court on the order of judiciary chief Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi to review the execution sentence. Jamshidi said: 'As I have said before, 'qisas' (the Islamic code of punishment or fair retribution) is a religious decree and we do not have execution under the age of 18.' Jamshidi said it was up to parliament to review any laws related to trying and sentencing minors.