Duress in Homicide in the Jurisprudence of the Five Sects and Iranian Criminal Law

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Assistant Professor, Department of Jurisprudence and Fundamentals of Islamic Law, Faculty of Theology and Islamic Sciences, University of Tabriz, Iran, Tabriz

2 Associate Professor, Department of Jurisprudence and Fundamentals of Islamic Law, Faculty of Theology and Islamic Sciences, University of Tabriz, Iran, Tabriz

3 PhD Student in Jurisprudence and Fundamentals of Islamic Law, Faculty of Theology and Islamic Sciences, University of Tabriz, Iran, Tabriz

10.22091/dclic.2026.15549.1158

Abstract

The issue of duress in murder is one of the complex and controversial topics in the five schools of thought, which is of great importance in determining criminal responsibility. This article aims to examine the impact of duress on the liability of the coerced person and the coercer in homicide and to analyze the points of divergence among Shiite and Sunni jurists. The research method is a comparative and descriptive analysis of the opinions of Shiite and Sunni jurists in classical and contemporary jurisprudential sources. The findings indicate that in Shiite jurisprudence, the prevailing view does not consider duress as an excusatory factor fot the principal, but, a non-dominant view, under conditions of severe duress, reduces the liability of the coerced person and attributes the committing homicide primarily to the coercer. In Sunni jurisprudence, most jurists hold both parties liable, although, in cases of complete duress and suspicion, some consider principal as a mere tool in the hands of the coercer, thereby negating retaliation against the former. The practical conclusion of the article suggests that the absolute transfer of liability to either the coerced person or the coercer is not entirely correct and the Islamic Penal Code should clearly and explicitly stipulate the liability of both principal and the coercer, taking into account the complexities and varying circumstances of duress in homicide.

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References

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Criminal Law Doctrines of Islamic Countries
Volume 3, Issue 3 - Serial Number 11
Autumn 2026
September 2026
Pages 45-73

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