In Iran, the decision of a local court is enough to sentence someone to death and publicly execute that person
This was the case with 24 year old Balal who, seven years ago, stabbed and killed a 18 year old during a fight.
The incident took place in the small town of Royan in Iran where, according to Islamic Sharia law, Balal was sentenced to public execution by hanging. The family of the victim would be involved in the execution, pulling the chair from under the 24 year-old man.

What happened, however, just before the execution of Balal was quite rare because, when everything was ready for the hanging and the noose was already around the neck of the young blindfolded man, the victim’s mother approached him and, after slapping him, she declared in front of the crowd that she forgives him and she spared his life.

Balal’s mother, crying from hapiness, hugged the victim’s mother, who had lost another son in a bike accident when he was 11 years old.
Iran has received international criticism for the public executions – which are attended even by children.
The Iranian government has admitted that in 2013 alone, 369 executions took place, while Amnesty International speaks of at least 700 executions.