Though Iran's Supreme Court quashed the death sentence in February 2003, the case was promptly sent back for retrial by the very court that ordered the execution.

BBC: Profile: Hashem Aghajari

Legal experts independent of the case weighed in after the death sentence was handed down.

WSJ: China Rejects Millionaire's Death Sentence

Although the jury in the earlier case declined to sentence the defendants to death, that determination does not bind a future jury.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Civilian courts are no place to try terrorists