The Definition and Number of
Crimes Punished by Retribution [qisas]
Article (13): Crimes for which retribution [qisas] is mandatory are those stipulated by
religious Jurisdictional [hodoud] stipulations and they are rights due to
human beings; they comprise two kinds of crimes:
1. Crimes that are carried out against the lives of persons that lead to
death.
2. Crimes that are carried out falling short of taking the lives of persons,
which are perpetrated against the body of a person but do not lead to
his death.
Identification of Crimes Requiring Slandering
Article (14): Crimes that require slandering are all the acts that are punishable under the
provisions of this Law.
Division of Crimes According to Seriousness
Article (15): Crimes are broken down into two types in terms of the seriousness thereof:
- serious crimes; and
- minor crimes4
Definition of Serious Crimes
Article (16): Serious crimes are crimes, which are punishable by absolute religiously
ordained punishments [hodoud], by death in retribution [qisas], or by
severing a limb or limbs; similarly, all crimes that are convicted and
sentenced to the death penalty or imprisonment for a maximum period of
three years.
Definition of Minor Crimes
Article (17): Minor crimes are crimes that are fundamentally punished by blood money,
compensation for injuries, or imprisonment for a maximum of three
years or a fine.
Section THREE
Attempting a Crime
Article (18): Attempting a crime is starting to carry out an act with the intent of
perpetrating a crime; for reasons that do not have anything to do with the
desire of the perpetrator the conduct of the perpetrator was halted as
4
Literally translated as "Non – serious crimes".