Iran sentences former Tehran' mayor to death

Iranian judiciary spokesman Gholamhossein Esmaili on Tuesday said former Tehran Mayor Mohammad Ali Najafi had been sentenced to death for fatally shooting his second wife, Mitra Ostad

Najafi left her body in a bathtub and turned himself in. He confessed to murdering her, with officials saying the couple had domestic issues.

"The charge sheet included premeditated murder, battery and possession of an illegal firearm," said Esmaili. "The court has established premeditated murder and passed the execution sentence."

Read more: Global executions on the decline, says Amnesty International

Death sentence

Ostad's family had called for an Islamic law of retribution to be applied in the case, which the court agreed to. However, Najafi has 20 days to appeal the conviction.

"The sentence is not yet final and can be appealed at the Supreme Court," Esmaili said.

Last year, at least 273 people were executed, marking a 48% decrease compared to the year before. Iran is one of 55 countries that retain capital punishment.

Rights groups have called on Iran — and other countries such as the US — to formally outlaw the practice, arguing that it undermines human dignity.

Read more: Is the UK no longer opposed to the death penalty?

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ls/rt (AP, AFP)