This would be more interesting if they hadn't outlawed stoning before, but they have done so, and stoning continued. This is, of course, because these things are in the Qur'an -- the four witnesses to which Sharokhi refers are at 24:13, amputation for theft is at 5:38, and the killing of heretics at 4:89. Consequently, even if the Iranian mullahs do outlaw these things, they will still be practiced by those who believe them to be divine law, and believe the principle that divine law transcends human law.

"Stoning to be omitted from Iran penal laws," from [1] PressTV, June 23 (thanks to James):

Head of the Majlis judiciary commission Ali Shahrokhi says stoning, heresy and cutting hands will be omitted from Iran's penal laws.

"The Majlis judiciary commission studied the new Islamic punishment bill and decided that it is unnecessary to include some penalties, such as stoning, in the law," Shahrokhi told IRNA on Monday.

"Islam is strict about some penalties, including stoning which needs specific conditions to be carried out and in most cases it is difficult to prove guilt," he said.

In order for the punishment for stoning - the penalty for adultery - to be carried out, Islamic law requires four reputable eyewitness "accusers" to testify to seeing "the accused" commit the offense....