Mofsed-e-filarz
Encyclopedia
Mofsed-e-filarz is the title of capital crime (or person guilty of the crime) in the Islamic Republic of Iran, that has been translated in English language sources variously as "spreading corruption on earth", "spreading corruption that threatens social and political well-being", "corrupt of the earth; one who is charged with spreading corruption," "gross offenders of the moral order", and "enemies of God on Earth."
According to scholar John Esposito
, the term is used in the Quran to refer to “corrupt conditions, caused by unbelievers and unjust people, that threaten social and political well-being.” It is found in Quran in the verse
The crime is similar to "moharebeh
" (civil unrest/waging war on God and people), and offenders have been charged with both crimes. The charge as enforced by the Islamic Republic of Iran has been called "a catchall indictment of political dissent, carries the death sentence." According to at least one source, Mofsed-e-filarz was first introduced as a crime in the Islamic Republic of Iran by Ayatollah Khomeini.
The charge was used by Islamic Republican judicial authorities in the early days of the Iranian Revolution, resulting in many imprisonments and executions. Possibly more than 8,000 people suffered that fate, ranging from former members of the Shah's government, leaders of opposition or terrorist groups, or simply opponents of the regime, against Baha’i leaders on a number of occasions, and in February 2011 a large majority of members of the Iranian parliament called for prosecuted and execution of Iranian opposition leaders Mehdi Karroubi
and Mir-Hossein Mousavi
on the charge of mofsed-e-filarz.
In Pakistan, CIA contractor Raymond Davis barely escaped being charged with mofsed-e-filarz (called by a slightly different name under Pakistani law) after murder charges were annulled after paying diyya, or blood money, to the victim's family. His sentence could have ranged from 10 years to death by hanging if convicted.
According to scholar John Esposito
John Esposito
John Louis Esposito is a professor of International Affairs and Islamic Studies at Georgetown University...
, the term is used in the Quran to refer to “corrupt conditions, caused by unbelievers and unjust people, that threaten social and political well-being.” It is found in Quran in the verse
They said, "O Zul-Qarnain, Gog and Magog are corruptors of the earth. Can we pay you to create a barrier between us and them?"
The crime is similar to "moharebeh
Moharebeh
Moharebeh is the title of a crime in Islamic law. Mohareb refers to the perpetrator of the crime. Moharebeh has been translated in English language media sources variously as "waging war against God," "war against God and the state," "enmity against God." Mohareb has been translated by English...
" (civil unrest/waging war on God and people), and offenders have been charged with both crimes. The charge as enforced by the Islamic Republic of Iran has been called "a catchall indictment of political dissent, carries the death sentence." According to at least one source, Mofsed-e-filarz was first introduced as a crime in the Islamic Republic of Iran by Ayatollah Khomeini.
The charge was used by Islamic Republican judicial authorities in the early days of the Iranian Revolution, resulting in many imprisonments and executions. Possibly more than 8,000 people suffered that fate, ranging from former members of the Shah's government, leaders of opposition or terrorist groups, or simply opponents of the regime, against Baha’i leaders on a number of occasions, and in February 2011 a large majority of members of the Iranian parliament called for prosecuted and execution of Iranian opposition leaders Mehdi Karroubi
Mehdi Karroubi
Mehdi Karroubi is an influential Iranian reformist politician, democracy activist, mojtahed, and chairman of the National Trust Party. He was Chairman of the parliament from 1989 to 1992 and 2000 to 2004, and a presidential candidate in the 2005 and 2009 presidential elections.He is a founding...
and Mir-Hossein Mousavi
Mir-Hossein Mousavi
Mir-Hossein Mousavi Khameneh is an Iranian reformist politician, artist and architect who served as the seventy-ninth and last Prime Minister of Iran from 1981 to 1989. He was a Reformist candidate for the 2009 presidential election and eventually the leader of the opposition in the post-election...
on the charge of mofsed-e-filarz.
In Pakistan, CIA contractor Raymond Davis barely escaped being charged with mofsed-e-filarz (called by a slightly different name under Pakistani law) after murder charges were annulled after paying diyya, or blood money, to the victim's family. His sentence could have ranged from 10 years to death by hanging if convicted.