A Reflection on the Occurrence of Insanity after the Commission of the Crime and before the Issuance of a Judgment (A Critique of Note 1 to Article 150 of the Islamic Penal Code and Note 2 to Article 13 of the Criminal Procedure Code)

Document Type : Review Article

Authors

1 , Associate Professor, jurisprudence and Islamic law, Bozorgmehr University of Qaenat, Qaenat, Iran.

2 MA. in Criminal Law, University of Qom, Qom, Iran.

Abstract

The occurrence of insanity after the crime has been committed and before the judgment has become final has given rise to different opinions among jurists and legal scholars. Note 1 to Article 150 of the Islamic Penal Code distinguishes between punishments having the character of God’s rights and those having the character of people’s rights. For the former, insanity is regarded as an impediment to prosecution, whereas for the latter the provision does not recognize insanity as a basis for suspending proceedings. Note 2 to Article 13 of the Criminal Procedure Code similarly provides that, in people’s-rights cases, where the evidentiary circumstances are such that an insane or unconscious accused would allegedly be unable to rebut the charge even after recovery, the accused’s guardian is notified to appoint a lawyer and, failing that, appointed counsel is designated and the proceedings continue. The phrase “would be unable to rebut the charge even after recovery” conflicts with certain jurisprudential, ethical, and legal principles. This study presents and critically examines the different views. It argues that the phrase amounts to prejudgment and neglect of the accused’s right of defense in a fair trial. It concludes that abolishing the distinction between God’s-rights and people’s-rights offenses for this procedural purpose and suspending prosecution in both categories would be more appropriate. Nevertheless, claims for damages arising from the offense may be addressed through counsel, and enforcement of a resulting judgment may be secured through an appropriate guarantee or security mechanism.

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Criminal Law Doctrines
Volume 22, Issue 30 - Serial Number 30
December 2025
Pages 437-470

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History

  • Receive Date: 30 October 2025
  • Revise Date: 14 February 2026
  • Accept Date: 28 February 2026
  • Publish Date: 22 December 2025

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