Iranian man granted mercy by victim’s family moments after execution begins

TEHRAN – Doğan News Agency

The Iranian agency captured this unusual incident with photographs showing Zahe first being brought to the scaffold and being unexpectedly saved a few chaotic moments later. DHA photo

A man sentenced to death for murder in Mashad, northeastern Iran, was granted mercy at the very last moment just as he was being hung from the scaffold. According to Iranian Mehr news agency, Vahid Zare had been charged with killing a young person doing his military service. He was granted mercy by the victim’s family when he started choking, seconds after the executioner pulled the gallows from beneath his feet.

Once the members of the victims’ family confirmed that they were pardoning the culprit, the officials took Zahe down and sent him to the hospital. 

The Iranian agency captured this unusual incident with photographs showing Zahe first being brought to the scaffold and being unexpectedly saved a few chaotic moments later.