Hashim Aghajari's Lawyer Appeals Islamic Court Ruling Today

Mr. Hashim Aghajari's lawyer, a university professor who was recently sentenced to death for criticizing the Islamic Republic regime, filed an appeal today on behalf of his client against the Islamic court ruling at the last minute. Mr. Saleh Nikbakht, Mr. Aghajari's lawyer, stated that despite his client's wishes, he has submitted the appeal. Mr. Aghajari, a veteran of the Iran-Iraq War who was disabled during the conflict, was sentenced to death last month by the conservative judiciary of the Islamic Republic on charges of insulting Islam for questioning the religious authorities' rule over Iran. The issuance of the death sentence against this university professor sparked protests from reformist students in Iran, who demonstrated for two weeks against the regime and called for the Islamic judiciary to revoke the ruling. Some reformists fear that even if Mr. Aghajari's death sentence is overturned, the initial ruling from the Hamadan court may still be enforced, which includes 74 lashes, a ten-year teaching ban, and an eight-year exile to a remote village in Iran. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the regime's leader, also urged the judiciary to reconsider its ruling, but the judiciary stated that Mr. Aghajari must file an appeal for the court to review its decision. Today was the last day of the twenty-day deadline for submitting the appeal. Some reformists are concerned that even if the death sentence is revoked on appeal, Mr. Aghajari may still face additional punishments initially considered by the Hamadan court, including 74 lashes, a ten-year ban from teaching, and eight years of exile to a remote village in Iran.