SECULAR MARTYRDOM IN IRAN:

It’s a pity that so much of the attention given to the Islamic world is lavished on its thugs and psychopaths; a pity because its men and women of courage are largely overlooked.

The case of Iranian academic Hashem Aghajari is a striking example. Dr. Aghajari gave a public lecture in June calling for political reform and “religious renewal,” and challenging his fellow Iranians not to “blindly follow religious leaders.” The result was that he was charged in Iran’s religious courts with apostasy, where he was found guilty Nov. 6 in a closed-door trial. He is to be hanged. . . .

Aghajari has the right to appeal his verdict, presumably allowing a deal to be worked out that could defuse the crisis. (Similar death sentences have been reduced on appeal.) But his lawyer now says that Aghajari doesn’t want to appeal. According to the lawyer, Aghajari says that “those who have issued this verdict have to implement it if they think it is right or else the Judiciary has to handle it.” He thus appears to be risking his life so as to force Iran’s judicial establishment to confront its own barbarity.

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