Iran is considering the death penalty for repeat offenders of new antipornography laws, according to Iranian media.
The legislation is part of a government campaign aimed at curbing the distribution of Western home movies and videotapes, which appear to be gaining popularity, especially among Iranian youth.Under the legislation passed Sunday by parliament, traffickers of pornographic videotapes could be declared "Corrupt on Earth" upon their third conviction, the daily Ettelaat reported Monday.
Religious tribunals created after the 1979 Islamic Revolution used the term "Corrupt on Earth" to hand down death sentences.
First- and second-time offenders would face prison terms of up to five years and fines reaching $114,000, Ettelaat said.
The legislation still must be approved by the Council of Guardians, a body of Islamic experts that decides whether laws are in line with Muslim precepts.
Despite the new legislation, Iranian leaders and clergy appear to be recognizing that growing numbers of people - many of them too young to remember the 1979 revolution - are enticed by Western popular culture.
Video shops are popping up around the country and offering the latest productions from Hollywood and Europe. An estimated 500,000 households have installed satellite dishes, despite a ban on satellite reception.
Iran recently legalized videotapes but subjected them to strict licensing controls by the Ministry of Islamic Guidance and Culture.
The ministry opened its own video stores in the hopes of luring viewers away from racier offerings on the underground market.