Iran hangs woman for murdering Soccer player's wife

Iran hangs woman for murdering Soccer player's wife

2010-12-02 03:29:56 GMT+7 (ICT)

TEHRAN, IRAN (BNO NEW) — An Iranian woman was hanged on Wednesday morning for murdering the wife of a famous soccer player after being his "temporary wife," local media reported.

Shahla Jahed, 41, was executed at around 5 a.m. local time at Evin Prison in the Iranian capital of Tehran after serving an eight-year prison term, time in which international outcry fought for her life. She was trialed for the murder of Laleh Saharkhizan, wife of 1980s Iranian national soccer team player Nasser Mohammad Khani.

Jahed reportedly prayed in public and spared for her life before Saharkhizan's brother pulled the chair on which she was standing on to proceed with the execution.

Initial confessions revealed that Jahed stabbed Saharkhizan to death in 2002, but she later retracted her statements, which led to her years of imprisonment.

Mohammad Khani was sentenced to 74 lashes for a separate drug-related charge, but he was not trialed for adultery. Shia Islam permits "temporary marriage."

The execution marks Iran's 146th this year. China is the only country that has conducted more executions with at least 388 people in 2009, most of whom are social criminals and drugs traffickers.

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