Hands Off Cain
NEWS ARCHIVE·DEATH PENALTY·JANUARY 12, 2003
Iran

Iran's reformist-held parliament approved the details...

Iran's reformist-held parliament approved the details of a law granting non-Muslim minorities the right to the same "blood money" as Muslim men

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Iran's reformist-held parliament approved the details of a law granting non-Muslim minorities the right to the same "blood money" as Muslim men. Under Islamic law, relatives of a murder victim can either claim blood money, pardon a criminal or allow an execution to go ahead. Blood money is also built into vehicle insurance as compensation in the case of a fatal accident. The value currently put on the life of a Muslim man is 150 million rials (18,750 dollars), and half that for a woman. The new law, which must be approved by the conservative Guardian Council, is reportedly supported by Khomeini's successor as supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has the final say on all state matters.
SOURCES
  • (Sources: Agence France-Presse, 12/01/2003)