Iran: Killer’s execution halted at last moment by victim’s mother

An Iranian murderer sentenced to death with a noose already round his neck was given a last minute pardon by the victim’s mother.

Seven years ago Bilal, aged 20, stabbed and killed 18-year-old Abdollah Hosseinzadeh during a street brawl in the northern town of Royan. Six years later, Bilal was sentenced to death after a trial for murder.

As part of his hanging, a member Hosseinzadeh’s family were to push the chair away from Bilal’s feet, in an application of “qisas”, the Sharia law of retribution, according to the Guardian.

However, in a dramatic scene, with the noose already around Bilal’s neck, Hosseinzadeh’s mother came up to him and slapped him in the face and forgave him, removing his noose and sparing his life.