Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology

Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology

Comparison of the Standard of "Proof Beyond Reasonable Doubt" in the U.S. Legal System with the "Rule of Dar’" in the Iranian Legal System: The Necessity for a Change in the Application of the Rule of Dar’,

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Seyed Hossein Hosseini 1
Hesam Ghapanchi 2
AMIR MOUSAVI 3
Seyyede Zahra Khakshoori 4
1 Associate Professor, Department of Criminal Law and Criminology, Faculty of Law and Political Science, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran.
2 Lecturer Department of Criminal Law and Criminology, Faculty of Law and Political Science, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
3 M.A. Student in Criminal Law and Criminology, Faculty of Law and Political Sciences, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
4 Master's student in Criminal Law and Criminology, Faculty of Law and Political Science, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran.
10.22034/jclc.2025.425840.1948
Abstract
The consequence of a criminal conviction is typically the infliction of suffering upon the offender or the deprivation of their liberty and social rights. Given the severity of this outcome, ensuring that only the truly culpable are punished is paramount; thus, preventing the wrongful conviction of the innocent is a foundational concern across legal systems. A well-known standard in the U.S. legal system for achieving this goal is “proof beyond reasonable doubt,” regarded as a golden rule and the cornerstone of American criminal procedure. According to this standard, the prosecutor must prove the defendant’s guilt beyond any reasonable doubt to the jury; the presence of a logical doubt obligates the jury to acquit. Islamic jurisprudence and the Iranian legal system employ a cognate rule known as the dar’ rule. By virtue of this principle, if doubt arises concerning the occurrence of a crime or the conditions for criminal responsibility, the crime or the condition in question is deemed unproven and hence suspended. A comparative analysis reveals that the dar’ rule roughly encompasses all the functions of its American counterpart and is, in certain respects, more comprehensive. Nevertheless, its application in criminal proceedings faces practical challenges. This paper argues that elevating the dar’ rule to a formal standard of proof and applying it consistently across all criminal proceedings could more effectively prevent the wrongful conviction of the innocent.
 
Keywords
Wrongful Conviction
Acquittal of the Guilty
Proof Beyond Reasonable Doubt
Dar&‌rsquo؛ Rule
Burden of Proof
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Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology
Volume 13, Issue 27
Winter 2026
Pages 107-142