Islamic regime sentences Iranian to prison for handing out candy after Khamenei's assassination

An Iranian citizen has been sentenced to two years in prison for allegedly distributing candy in the days following the assassination of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The sentence was announced by Iranian lawyer Shala Arouji on Sunday.

Arouji stated that her client maintained the confectionery treats were distributed to celebrate the opening of his new business. However, the court reportedly used his apparent happiness as evidence against him. The conviction has drawn criticism from legal advocacy groups.

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The court's reliance on the defendant's ‘happiness’ as grounds for committing the crime is in clear conflict with the principle of legality in crimes and punishments, because emotions, mental states, or subjective interpretations of individuals cannot be criminalized unless they manifest in specific behaviors defined as criminal by law.

Dadban, a legal consulting center, argued that even if the accusations of celebrating Khamenei's death were true, the action would not be punishable under Article 514 of the Islamic Penal Code. The center asserted that conviction requires "explicitly derogatory and humiliating words, phrases, or behaviors," which handing out sweets does not meet.

Legal experts further contend that the court's reliance on the defendant's "happiness" conflicts with the principle of legality. They argue that emotions or subjective interpretations cannot be criminalized unless manifested in legally defined criminal behaviors. Iranian law, they emphasize, contains no provision deeming mere joy over a person's death a crime. Despite an internet shutdown, reports of celebrations across Iran emerged following Khamenei's assassination on February 28.

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Iranian criminal laws also contain no provision that deems mere joy over a person's death a crime.