An Eye for an Eye: A Man's Eyes Were Gouged Out in Tehran

An eye for an eye: A man's eyes were gouged out in Tehran - 2002-08-13. One of the listeners of Radio Voice of America from Iran sent us four photographs along with news about the gouging out of the eyes of a person named Seyyed Taghi Tabatabai according to an Islamic court ruling in Tehran. Before the execution of the sentence, a guard read the judge's ruling as follows: '... Mr. Seyyed Taghi Tabatabai, son of Seyyed Reza, is sentenced to have his eyes gouged out. This ruling is based on judgment number 63/5/1/191 issued by Branch 32 of the Tehran Criminal Court... and executed by Branch 16 of the Supreme Court. The defendant is sentenced to have both eyes gouged out; if the defendant has not committed any other crime, he will be released immediately after the execution of the sentence. The respected head of Qasr Prison, the head of the prison medical department, the representative of forensic medicine, and the judicial police must oversee the execution of the sentence. All necessary medical actions must be taken after the execution of the sentence.' The following text is taken from a video recording of the gouging out of Seyyed Taghi Tabatabai's eyes: Seyyed Taghi Tabatabai: 'Oh God, oh God, oh God, oh God, oh God, doctor, for God's sake, do something. Oh God, for God's sake, do something. Doctor, for God's sake, do something. Oh God... Doctor, oh God, oh God.' Cameraman: 'Doctor, move your hand away.' Seyyed Taghi Tabatabai: 'Doctor, I'm telling you I can't see anymore. Let my eye stay.' Cameraman: 'Doctor, move your hand away.' Doctor: 'Seyyed Taghi...' A guard (addressing the doctor): 'Finish it, let him go.' Doctor: 'Keep your eyelids open.' Seyyed Taghi Tabatabai: 'Oh God... oh God!' Cameraman: 'Doctor, your hand is in front of the camera.' Seyyed Taghi Tabatabai: 'Doctor, don't apply pressure. Oh God, my head is going to explode. Oh God, my eye...'