One of Ours

A university professor has decided not to appeal a reinstated death sentence, effectively challenging Iran's hard-line judges to execute him for criticizing clerical rule, his lawyer said Tuesday.

The original sentence handed down to Hashem Aghajari in 2002 provoked massive student demonstrations and street battles with hard-line vigilantes. The uproar highlighted the power struggle between reformists and conservatives in Iran.

The Supreme Court overturned the death penalty last year. But the original court in the western province of Hamedan province has reinstated it...

...Aghajari was determined to challenge the judiciary to carry out the sentence, Nikbakht said. "If not appealed, the sentence will be final and the judiciary will have to carry it out," he said.

In 2002, Aghajari had also instructed Nikbakht not to file an appeal, but the lawyer did appeal to the Supreme Court. On Tuesday, Nikbakht said this time he would heed Aghajari's instructions....