[Question: What is the Ayatollah's opinion on the execution of persons who commit murder under the age of 18?]
Fatwa:
In regard to the execution of the youth under the age of 18, it needs to be said:
First, puberty is a condition, but not the sufficient condition, for "qisas" (retaliation). If circumstances or other evidence prove that the person did not intend to commit murder, and, given immaturity, did not realize that his or her action would lead to homicide, or if he or she believed that murder was justified and legitimate under the conditions, qisas would not be applicable. Furthermore, any kinds of hadd punishments (prescribed religious penalties like qisas, see glossary) would not be applicable if there is any uncertainty as to their applicability, due to the general principle of "the hadds would become inapplicable in the event of any uncertainty."
Second, if the implementation of the hadd punishments leaves an adverse impact on the [reputation] of the religion or the society, the jurist can, or perhaps must, suspend it.
[Note: For other opinions on this topic search the keywords: penalties & punishments.]
و در مورد اعدام جوانهاى زير 18 سال بايد گفت : اولا - گرچه شرط تعلق قصاص بلوغ است ، ولى شرط كافى نيست و چنانچه از قرائن و شواهد يا به دليل معتبرى معلوم شود فرد بالغ نه تنها قصد قتل نداشته است ، بلكه هرچند به سبب كمى سن ، تصور نمى كرده است عملش منجر به قتل شود و يا اعتقاد داشته است كه در چنين مواردى قتل شرعا جايز و مشروع است ، در اين صورت قصاص منتفى مىشود; بلكه به طور كلى حدود و قصاص در اثر شبهه اى كه با طريق شرعى منتفى نباشد مطابق قاعده "درأ" ساقط مىشود: " الحدود تدرأ بالشبهات ". و ثانيا - هرگاه اجراى حدى از حدود الهى در شرايط خاصى مستلزم عوارض سوء و منفى براى مذهب يا جامعه باشد، حاكم شرع جامع الشرايط مىتواند بلكه بايد اجراى آن را متوقف نمايد. ان شاء الله موفق باشيد.