An Iranian death row inmate has through his lawyer, Ramkarpal Singh, filed an application to stay his execution pending an amendment to a law that gives judges discretion on sentencing.

Ramkarpal filed a motion before the Federal Court today on behalf of Hamidreza Farahmand Hassan for a stay of the death sentence imposed on the Iranian for drug trafficking - until the amendment to the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which gives discretion to the court to impose other forms of punishment, is passed.

Hamidreza has already exhausted all legal avenues after the death sentence was upheld by the Federal Court last year and has submitted an appeal for clemency before the Selangor sultan last week...