The Lapse of Qisas (Retaliation) without the Security for Debts of Indebted Murdered Person (an Islamic Jurisprudential Thought on Article 432 of the Islamic Penal Code of Iran)

Although the Qisas (retaliation) punishment in the intentional murder (killing) has been considered and legislated by the criminal policy of Islam as a basic (primary) principle. This punishment lapses in some cases. One of this cases which it should be thought in the lapse of Qisas or the practice of it is the one when it is supposed the murdered person is debtor and victim’s nearest relatives or awliyāʾ (ÃæáیÇÁ) (legal guardians) demand (ask) for Qisas of the murderer. There is a problem here in this supposition: creditors can stop the right of Qisas or basically in this presumption if it is possible Qisas of murderer without the security (guarantee) for the right of creditors or it is possible when the creditors’ debts are paid or guaranteed or secured. The Islamic penal code of Iran (codified 1392) has followed some of Imāmī jurists (Fuqahā) and has accepted that the victim’s nearest relatives or awliyāʾ (ÃæáیÇÁ) (legal guardians) can demand Qisas (retaliate) without the security (guarantee) or payment (discharging) for debts of the murdered person. From the other side, other Imāmī jurists (Fuqahā) like Imam Khomeini in Tahrir
al-Wasilah says that it is nearer to precaution (ihtiyat to accept the lapse of Qisas) in this situation unless the victim’s nearest relatives or awliyāʾ (ÃæáیÇÁ) (legal guardians) accept -promise- to pay and guarantee the creditors’ debts. This paper has been focused on the Islamic fiqh attitudes of Imam Khomeini and after the examination of opponents’ and proponent’ sayings, it has resulted that the theory (opinion) of the Lapse of Qisas to protect the rights of the creditors and the apparent (outward aspect) indication of ahadith is more justifiable (legitimate).