The Difference Between Pistorius and Karim Benzema and the Iranian Olympic Champion

An Iranian athlete who holds an Olympic medal has been sentenced to one year of exile and 100 lashes for the charge of "non-violent adultery" in a criminal court in Tehran and subsequently in the Supreme Court. This case began in February 2015 with a complaint from a young woman who is a civil engineer and university professor. She told Hamshahri newspaper that the mentioned athlete invited her to a birthday party for his friend in northern Tehran, but when she arrived, only the athlete and his friend were present, and together they "harassed and assaulted" her. This claim has been confirmed by the forensic medicine organization. The defendants were tried in Branch 72 of the Tehran Criminal Court. They requested clemency from the court and stated that they had repented, but the judges convicted both defendants. The athlete and his friend appealed the ruling, and the case was sent to Branch 29 of the Supreme Court. The review of the case took several months, but ultimately the Supreme Court judges found both guilty of "non-violent adultery." According to the issued ruling, the famous athlete was sentenced to 100 lashes and one year of exile to a western city, while his accomplice received 100 lashes and two years of exile to the south of the country. The victim of the case told Hamshahri newspaper: "The nightmare of this incident does not leave me for a moment. We were supposed to marry, but I don’t know how he brought this calamity upon me. I have attempted suicide multiple times and am now under the care of a psychologist." She also spoke about the accusation of extortion by the convicts, saying: "I earn enough from teaching and construction projects. The convicted athlete suggested we create a fake marriage contract and go to America together, but I refused so he wouldn’t think that because of his fame, he could ruin anyone’s life." Despite the issuance of the ruling and the finality of the sentence, the judiciary and the media refrain from announcing the names of the convicts. This withholding of information to protect the reputation of a guilty athlete has led to public speculation about many athletes, with new names constantly being mentioned. The lawyer of the convicted athlete stated in an interview with the 'Varzesh 3' website that it is possible to obtain leave during exile for the athlete to participate in training camps and the Olympics. The question arises: if the names of the convicts are not to be disclosed, and they are allowed to continue their normal lives and participate in competitions, will this serve as a lesson for future criminals or, conversely, indicate a safe environment for crime? The case of the Olympic medal-winning athlete can be compared to the cases of two prominent athletes currently in the headlines of world sports. Karim Benzema, a forward for Real Madrid, went to the Versailles court after spending a night in custody to explain his involvement in the extortion case against Mathieu Valbuena, another player on the French national team. Benzema is accused of accompanying his friend Karim Zenati to extort Valbuena to prevent the release of a video of his sexual relations. The French national team striker has denied the allegations, claiming he wanted to help Valbuena as a friend. Benzema's involvement in this case led the court to prohibit him from contacting anyone involved in the case. If convicted, several years in prison await the Real Madrid star. French Prime Minister Manuel Valls stated that the national player should be a role model, and otherwise, he should not have a place in the national team. The head coach of the French national team also did not invite Benzema and Valbuena to the recent training camp. Benzema claims he is innocent and has enough money not to resort to such methods. However, even before the court ruling, the public and the media were fully aware of the issue. The trial of Oscar Pistorius in South Africa was also closely monitored by public opinion. The disabled runner, who received permission to compete in the Olympics, became one of the stars of world sports in recent years. He shot his girlfriend with four bullets from behind a bathroom door. Pistorius claimed he thought a burglar had entered his home, which is why he shot, but the court convicted him of murder, sentencing him to at least 15 years in prison.