Iran Human Rights, May 13: With less than 24 hours left to the inhumane punishment of blinding a man by dripping acid into his eyes in Tehran, and one day after the Norwegian government condemned the punishment, The British government urged the Iranian authorities to halt the sentence.

According to the Guardian the British Foreign Office urged Iran to halt the sentence. "The attack on Ameneh Bahrami in 2004 was a horrific crime," a spokesman said. "However, we are deeply concerned by reports that Majid Movahedi’s sentence of being blinded by having acid dripped into his eyes may be carried out".

"The FCO calls on the Iranian authorities to commute this inhumane punishment to an appropriate sentence in line with Iran’s international obligations and to cease the practice of corporal punishment for crimes" says the statement.

Majid Movahedi was in 2009 sentenced by a Tehran court to be blinded by dripping 10 drops of sulphuric acid in both eyes, convicted of pouring acid into the face of Ameneh Bahrami in 2004.

Ameneh Bahrami is supposed to conduct the punishment but there will be "specialists" present ready to take over.

Iran Human Rights group has strongly condemned the retribution verdict. Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, the spokesperson of IHR said in a statement: "The international community must not let this barbaric punishment to happen. Leaders of the Iranian regime should be held responsible for the grotesque punishment of dripping acid in Majid’s eyes. By letting Ameneh conduct the punishment the Iranian authorities want to put the blame for this inhumane act on her shoulders," he said.

The Norwegian government has also taken quick action by issuing a statement yesterday to condemn the imminent punishment. "Blinding with acid is a cruel punishment procedure that is not worthy of a civilized society. We strongly encourage Iran to stop the implementation of such an inhuman punishment," said Norwegian State Secretary Gry Larsen.