Obstacles to Criminal Liability Arising from Discipline and Punishment: A Comparative Study of Iranian and Egyptian Criminal Law
Keywords:
Criminal liability, discipline, punishment, obstacles to criminal liability, parentsAbstract
This article examines the obstacles to criminal liability arising from disciplinary and punitive actions in Iran and Egypt. Despite the existence of child protection laws in both countries—such as the Law on the Protection of Children and Adolescents in Iran and Law No. 126 of 2008 in Egypt—significant barriers remain to holding individuals criminally liable for acts of discipline and punishment. Corporal punishment is still widely accepted as an educational tool, and parents’ right to discipline their children is broadly interpreted. As a result, such interpretations form a major obstacle to establishing meaningful criminal liability for corporal punishment, ultimately affecting the health and rights of children. A comparative analysis shows that, in practice, both legal systems recognize the parents’ right to punish without criminal responsibility, although this right has been severely restricted in educational settings. The article recommends a structural revision of existing laws, the gradual elimination of the parental right to corporal punishment, and the mandatory implementation of legal controls and public awareness initiatives to ensure genuine protection of children.
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