Act of mercy: The victim's parents take the noose off the convict's neck after sparing his life, however, under Iranian law, the family does not have any say in the killer's jail sentence

The killer, known as Balal, was sentenced to death for stabbing his victim during a street fight years ago

The Iranian man was due to have the chair that he was standing on kicked away from under him by the dead man's parents

The victim's father, Abdolghani Hosseinzadeh, revealed his wife had a change of heart after her dead son appeared to her in a dream.



He said: 'Three days ago, my wife saw my elder son in a dream telling her that they are in a good place and for her not to retaliate.

'This calmed my wife and we decided to think more until the day of the execution.'

The father said her actions were even more remarkable because they had already lost a son in a motorbike crash at the age of 11, according to the Guardian which cited the semi-official state news agency Isna.

The killer, known as Balal, was sentenced to death for stabbing 18-year-old Abdollah Hosseinzadeh Jnr, during a street fight in the Iranian town of Royan seven years ago.



The victim's mother (pictured) had a change of heart after her dead son appeared to her in a dram

United by grief and joy: The convict's mother embraces the sobbing woman whose teenager was stabbed to death by her son after her incredible act of forgiveness

But Mr Hosseinzadeh Snr believes Balal did not mean to kill his son.

He said: 'Abdollah was offended and kicked him, but at this time the murderer took a kitch knife out of his socks.



'Balal didn't know how to handle a knife. He was naive.'

In a literal application of the sharia law of retribution, known as qisas, the victim's family are allowed to take part in the execution.

They also have a say in sparing the death sentence, but not the jail term. It is not clear if Balal will now be freed.



IRAN EXECUTES HUNDREDS A YEAR Iran was one of the main drivers of a 15 per cent rise in executions around the globe last year, according to Amnesty International. Figures released by the organisation suggested at least 369 people were put to death, while, in February, it said nearly 100 had already been carried out this year. During one weekend in October last year, the Iranian authorities carried out 20 executions, including of the Kurdish political prisoner Habibollah Golparipour.

Golparipour was arrested in 2009 and sentenced to death in a five-minute trial in 2010 for 'enmity against God' through his alleged cooperation with a banned armed group, the 'Party For Free Life of Kurdistan'.

His family was not notified of his execution beforehand, and after his execution the authorities reportedly refused to hand over his body.