Iran's penal code is strongly influenced by interpretations of Islam that favor men over women. Some examples:

• Girls are considered adults at the age of 9, can be tried as an adult in a criminal court and are liable to receive the death penalty for murder. Boys become adults at 15.

• If a man and a woman are injured in an accident, the man gets double the punitive damages.

• Although the legal age of marriage for a girl is 13, a father can make her marry earlier with court permission.

• Mothers may not act as the financial guardians of their children or make decisions regarding their children's residence, foreign travel or medical care. Women need permission from a father or husband to travel.

• Men have uncontested rights to divorce their wives, and may practice polygamy. Polygamy is believed to be rare in urban areas and more prevalent among the poor and rural.

• Women receive half the inheritance of men.

• If a man dies childless, the totality of the inheritance goes to his parents, not his wife.

• Women can be stoned to death for adultery. Nine women are in jail sentenced to stoning death. The sentence has been carried out once since 1998.

— Associated Press