The Role of Puberty in the Criminal Responsibility of Girls according to Imami Jurisprudence and the Penal Laws of Iran and France

The Islamic jurisprudence acknowledges that the minors are not held responsible for criminal conducts and felonies but, at the same time, it does not neglect the importance of disciplining them to mend their character and behavior.  However, criminal responsibility comes upon attaining the age of puberty which, based on the widely-held opinions, occurs at the completion of nine lunar years. It is the age of puberty which is also recognized as the age of criminal responsibility by the legislature. The feasibility of adhering to this progressive principle has raised some questions. Therefore, some jurists have tried to explain the popular opinion and modify it by somehow increasing the age of puberty of girls and the age of their criminal responsibility or even removing the age criterion to prove puberty. This article seeks to explain, analytically and descriptively, the criteria of girls' criminal responsibility according Imami jurists and the relevant laws.