[Cited from the advance unedited version.]
14. The Special Rapporteur also notes that vague and broadly defined hudud provisions in the penal code, loosely defined as “crimes against God,”{{10}} often criminalise acts that are either not recognised as crimes under international laws and standards or not considered serious enough to warrant capital punishment. These include crimes such as insulting or cursing the Prophet (sabb al-nabi),{{11}} consensual heterosexual or same-sex relations between adults,{{12}} corruption on earth (efsad-e-fel-arz){{13}} and apostasy.”{{14}} Individuals convicted of some of these crimes are not generally allowed to seek a pardon or have their sentences commuted, in contravention of international law.
Link to full text of the report: Report-SRIran-AUV-2016-eng
[[10]]10. https://www.hrw.org/report/2012/08/28/codifying-repression/assessment-irans-new-penal-code.[[10]]
[[11]]11. Islamic Penal Code, article 262-63.[[11]]
[[12]]12. Articles 221-41 of the Islamic Penal Code.[[12]]
[[13]]13. Islamic Penal Code, Article 266.[[13]]
[[14]]14. Apostasy is not specifically codified as a crime in the Islamic Penal Code but is a hudud crime under Shari’a law. Iran’s judiciary can issue sentences based on apostasy pursuant to Article 167 of the constitution and 220 of the CPC.[[14]]