Insulting? You Will Be Executed!

What should be done with someone who insults the Prophet of Islam? At first glance, the Islamic Penal Code of Iran seems clear and straightforward: execution. However, this ruling, despite its apparent clarity, has complexities. This complexity arises when the term 'Sabb al-Nabi' enters the text of the law. Article 513 of the Islamic Penal Code emphasizes execution for the insulter but conditions the issuance of this ruling on the proof of 'Sabb al-Nabi'; an act that, according to legal interpretations, has specific conditions. For instance, the 'insulter' must have the intention to 'insult' and be aware of what they are saying. If these conditions are not met, a prison sentence of one to five years will be imposed. Now, it seems that the first branch of the criminal court in Arak has established that Sina Dehghan and Mohammad Noori have met all the conditions for 'Sabb al-Nabi' and has issued execution sentences for the two; the basis of their accusation, according to the Iran Human Rights Campaign, is the establishment of a campaign on the 'Line' network and writing posts on this social network that the judiciary deems 'against the religion of Islam and the Quran.' Is 'insulting' 'sacred values' a crime? If someone insults the Prophet of Islam with the intent to insult and with awareness, should they be executed? Does the scope of freedom of expression also include the 'right' to insult? This Friday, the Sixth Hour program hosted Ali Mohaghegh Nasab, a cleric and religious researcher residing in Paris, and Mehrdad Darvishpour, a sociologist residing in Sweden. In this context, 'My freedom' to 'insult sacred values' to you? The International Human Rights Campaign: Two people in Arak have received execution sentences for 'Sabb al-Nabi.' Sunni representatives in parliament protested against 'insulting the elders of Sunni Islam' in a roundtable program. The arrest of the operators of four Telegram channels on charges of 'insulting Islamic sacred values.'