Early this morning Shahla Jahed was hanged in Evin prison

Shahla Jahed, the temoporary wife of one of Iran's famous footballers, Naser Mohammedkhani, who was acxcused of murdering his first wife, Laleh Sahar Khizan some 9 years ago was executed by hanging in Evin prison today. The family of Laleh Saharkhizan and Naser Mohammedkhani drove to the spot where she was brought in for execution. This deprived Shahla's old mother to ask for a final clamancy.

According to Shahla's attorney, Mr Khoramshahi, Shahla pleaded with the family to spare her life but Laleh's brother took the role of the executioner and pulled the stool from under her feet. All through the procession, Mohammedkhani, the man who ruined two women's lives stood there and looked indifferent!

Shahla was famous for defending herself by reciting poetry and speaking of her love for this man. She said at court that her love was so immense that she would do anything for that. Apart from a confession that she later said was taken under duress, she said she did not kill Laleh. The case was reviewed several times by various judges and the flaws in the case were noted but every time the death sentence upheld.

In Iran, the easiest way to deal with a crime is issuing the death penalty without reviewing all the details and the circumstances where the crime has been committed. Apart form that in this specific case the blame should rest on the shoulder of a man who, despite a wife and children took Shahla as a second wife on a temporary contract. No one knew of this until the first wife was murdered in a brutal manner and Shahla was arrested on suspicion of murder. It was a big scandal at the time for Mohammedkhani, who was a famous Iranian footballer. At court and in an unprecedented manner Shahla displayed her immense love for this man who never showed any emotions for her after the incident.

Shahla spent 9 years in prison while her case was reviewed several times. Human rights activists and those who campaign against death penalty asked the family for clamancy but they refused.

 Crimes in Iran are not fully investigated and over years many have been executed while there has been seriou flaws in their cases. The rule of Ghesas or Retribution makes the family of the victim an accesory to another murder by giving them the chance to act as executionaire. Whether a person has committed a crime and must be punished by death which is wrong by itself is a matter which human rights activists are campaigning against. Giving the option to the family to actually execute somebody is another crime as it creates another murderer out of a murder case.

One hopes that the family of Laleh Saharkhizan who was brutally murdered live in peace from now on. The question is whether the brother who executed another human being and the main accuser, the husband who married another woman despite having a beautiful wife and children will rest in peace?