Iran Drops Death Penalty for Professor Guilty of Blasphemy

[Khephra]

Iran's hard-line judiciary backed off from the death sentence issued against a history professor, his lawyer said Monday. The sentencing of Hashem Aghajari had sparked days of protests in 2002.

Mr. Aghajari was convicted of blasphemy after he said in a speech that Muslims were not "monkeys" to follow blindly the teachings of clerics. Although that charge, carrying the death penalty, was dropped earlier this month, he may still face up to five years in prison for "insulting religious values," said his lawyer, Saleh Nikbakht. Mr. Aghajari has been in jail since 2002.

The head of the Supreme Court, Ayatollah Mohammad Mohammadi Gilani, said last week that Mr. Aghajari could be freed on bail. But the court ruled Monday that he must remain in jail for another month.

Mr. Aghajari, a reformist politician who lost a leg while serving in the 1980-88 war with Iraq, had said he would not appeal his death sentence. But in keeping with Iranian law, the verdict was sent to the Supreme Court, which ordered a review.

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http://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/29/international/middleeast/29iran.html?ex=1089086400&