Escalation of Sentences Violating Human Dignity; Request for 'Hand Cutting' of Eight Thieves in Tehran

The prosecutor's office in Tehran has requested the punishment of 'hand cutting' for eight thieves in a joint case. This indictment has been referred to the court for a ruling. Meanwhile, in a recent statement, human rights organizations have strongly condemned the resurgence of hand-cutting sentences issued by the judiciary of the Islamic Republic. According to Hamshahri Online, the eight citizens, for whom the 'execution of the limit' of hand cutting has been requested, are accused of forming a theft gang that stole goods worth 5 billion tomans from a house in northern Tehran during the summer of 2021. Following their arrest, aided by evidence from surveillance cameras, the special theft prosecutor has issued a request for 'execution of the hand cutting punishment' for them, and their court session will be held soon. Previously, the Tehran Criminal Court had issued a sentence of finger cutting for two main suspects in a theft case. Hand cutting is one of the punishments that has faced widespread criticism from international bodies due to its contradiction with human dignity. According to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the imposition of inhuman and degrading punishments is prohibited. Nevertheless, the Islamic Republic continues to carry out such punishments, disregarding both domestic and international protests.