The Incredible Moment a Killer is Spared Execution After His Victim's Mother Suddenly Forgave Him(Photos)

 Here are photos from the incredible moment a murderer is spared the gallows, just seconds before he is due to be hanged after a dramatic reprieve from his victim's mother.

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. And in a literal application of the sharia law of retribution, known as qisas, the victim's family are allowed to take part in the killer's execution.

Blindfolded and with the noose tight around his neck, Balal was due to have the scaffold chair kicked
away from under him by his dead victim's parents. But as these compelling pictures show, as Balal prepared to take his last breath, Abdollah's mother instead walked up to him, slapped him around the face and chose to forgive him in an extraordinary act of clemency. Continue to see more photos after the cut...

Abdollah's parents then removed the noose around Balal's neck to the joy of his own mother who ran over and embraced the grieving woman who let her son walk free.

DailyMail reports that 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. 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.

Killer's mum crying with Victim's mum

Crowd gathered to watch