IRAN CONSIDERING THE DEATH PENALTY FOR ‘OFFENSIVE’ BLOGGERS

Al Jazeera’s Nazanin Sadri reported that Iran is considering a new law that would allow the death penalty for “offensive” bloggers. “Under a strict interpretation of Islamic law, individuals could be sentenced to death for two main crimes. The first is murder. The second is known as ‘fasad,’ which means spreading mischief or undermining the authority or stability of the state. What that constitutes is open to interpretation. In the past it has been applied to rape, adultery, drug-related offences, and homosexual behavior. Iran now wants to introduce the death penalty for bloggers who write about and promote illegal activities.”