Three gold thieves in Iran face severe consequences, with their hands being amputated.
Hand Amputation for Theft Continues in Iran
Hand amputation as a punishment for theft remains legal in Iran, particularly for repeat offenders, under the country's Islamic law-based penal code established after the 1979 Islamic revolution.
Last month, three men convicted of stealing gold jewelry across four provinces had their hands amputated by authorities in Iran. The convictions and amputations were upheld by the country's top court.
The convicts, who had a history of multiple thefts, did not cooperate with attempts to negotiate the return of the stolen items. This lack of cooperation led to their sentencing and the execution of the punishment.
The amputations were carried out in accordance with the sharia-based penal code in Iran, which provides for amputation as a punishment for certain offences. The procedure was performed using a "guillotine machine," and the convicts were blindfolded and shackled.
The convicts were arrested several years ago, and over several years, they stole several kilogrammes of gold from various homes. The stolen items were mostly gold jewellery.
The defendants were arrested while committing a theft in the city of Urmia. The repeat offenders who had their hands amputated had a history of multiple thefts across various provinces.
The use of hand amputation as a punishment is relatively rare in Iran, but the practice has been condemned by human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International. The organizations have labelled it as torture and a violation of international human rights laws.
The punishments, characterized as cruel and inhuman, are strongly criticized for their disregard for human dignity. Activists call for the abolition of all corporal punishments in Iran, including amputation and flogging, emphasizing the need for legal reform and accountability for officials enforcing such sentences.
Thus, despite international condemnation and human rights objections, hand amputation remains legally sanctioned in Iran for theft, especially for repeat offenders, and continues to be enforced as of 2025.
- In the UAE, diplomatic talks regarding Iran's continued use of hand amputation as a punishment for theft have been taking place in the realm of general-news and politics.
- Amidst the controversy, some Iranian business leaders in the UAE have spoken out against the practice, expressing concerns about their country's reputation and the potential impact on future trade relations.
- Meanwhile, crime-and-justice news outlets report that these concerns have not deterred Iranian authorities, with several more amputations carried out this year, with no signs of slowing down.
