Iran court quashes death sentence of man accused of developing porn sites

Iran's supreme court has rejected the death sentence for Saeed Malekpour, a web programmer who was facing execution on charges of developing and promoting porn websites

Malekpour, 35-year-old Canadian resident was convicted of designing and moderating adult materials online. However, his family said he was a web programmer whose photo uploading software was used by a porn website without his knowledge.

Defence lawyers said the conviction was quashed after they provided the court with expert evidence. He will remain in jail while a judicial review into his case is held, The Guardian reports.

According to Malekpour's wife Fatima Eftekhari, a campaign by human rights groups in support of her husband was crucial in saving his life.

"Never underestimate the power of such campaigns when you can save the life of an innocent somewhere miles away from you by clicking a button or signing a letter," she said.

Students from some of the Iran's leading universities also wrote to the judges calling for his release.