Iran\u2019s judiciary should vacate the death sentence of a 30-year-old man who faces imminent execution for Facebook posts linked to his account. On November 24, 2014, Iran\u2019s Supreme Court upheld a criminal court ruling sentencing Soheil Arabi to hang. The court transferred his file to the judiciary\u2019s implementation unit, opening the way for his execution.<\/p>\n
A Tehran criminal court had convicted him in August of sabb al-nabbi, or \u201cinsulting the prophet,\u201d\u009d referring to the Prophet Muhammad, which carries the death penalty. Arabi\u2019s legal team has asked the judiciary to suspend the death sentence and review the case.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is simply shocking that anyone should face the gallows simply because of Internet postings that are deemed to be crude, offensive, or insulting,\u201d\u009d said Eric Goldstein, deputy Middle East and North Africa director. \u201cIran should urgently revise its penal code to eliminate provisions that criminalize peaceful free expression, especially when they punish its exercise with death.\u201d\u009d<\/p>\n