December 06-2013
The Majlis has passed legislation outlawing many types of large knives and other “cold weapons” that are the common weapon used in homicides in Iran.
Deputy Abolfazl Abutorabi said the bill enacted last week outlaws the manufacture in Iran of cutlasses, ratchet knives, brass knuckles, chain whips and similar weapons. Anyone making such weapons is subject to imprisonment for six months to two years.
Abutorabi said 90 percent of Iran’s homicides are caused by “cold weapons”—that is, by stabbings or beatings as opposed to hot weapons or firearms. This is the reverse of the United States where two-thirds of murders are by firearms.
Abutorabi said the use of cold weapons goes beyond homicide with many instances of robbery and rape being carried out under the threat of cold weapons.
The debate over banning the manufacturing of such weapons is not akin to the gun debate in the United States since there is no cold weapon lobby in Iran.
However, the manufacturing of kitchen knives will continue. Abutorabi neglected to say how many of the homicides in Iran were committed with kitchen knives as opposed to the large sword-like weapons to be banned.
The rate of homicide in Iran varies from year-to-year but averages about 3.0 per 100,000 population or about two-thirds the US rate of 4.7. The highest rates are largely in Central America where Honduras recently reached 91.6 per 100,000.
