TOUCHING PHOTOS: Iranian killer is spared execution by his victim's mother

Victim's mother slaps killer and asks for his release

As he prepares to take his last breath, this is the incredible moment a murderer is spared the gallows just seconds before he is due to be hanged after a dramatic reprieve from the victim's mother.

Blindfolded and with the noose tight around his neck, the Iranian killer was due to have the scaffold chair kicked away from under him by the dead man's parents.

But as these compelling pictures show, the mother instead walks up to him, slaps him around the face and chooses to forgive him in an extraordinary act of clemency.

The parents then remove the noose to the joy of the convict's mother who runs over and embraces the grieving woman who let her son walk free.

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.

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killer's mother on the ground waiting for her son's execution

victim's mother walks away crying after forgiving the killer

killer's mum consoles victim's mum

'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.

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.