The man, who has not been identified, was described as a “professional thief” by the local justice department. In a statement on its website on Wednesday, the authority said the convict had targeted homes in and around Mahmoudabad, a coastal town in northern Iran. They did not say how much time he was serving in the Sari Prison in the northern province of Mazandaran. 

The Mazandaran Judiciary said “dealing with thieves would increase the people’s sense of security”. 

Under the Islamic Republic’s Penal Code, the full length of four fingers of the right hand of a thief should be amputated for first time offenders. 

If thieves strike again, they run the risk of having their left foot cut off while a third conviction could see them sentenced to life imprisonment. 

Many Islamic hardliners want to see more of such punishments carried out. 

During a meeting with police commanders last January, Iran’s attorney-general, Mohammad Jafar Montazeri, called the strict laws “divine” and regretted there were not more amputations being carried out. 

He said: “Unfortunately, so as not to be condemned on human rights issues in the United Nations, we have abandoned some of the divine laws.” 

Amnesty International’s deputy directory for the Middle East and North Africa, Saleh Higazi, said the “maiming and mutilation of individuals is not justice”. 

He added: “It is a harrowing assault against human dignity. Reforms to Iran’s penal code that would put an end to this outrageous practice are long overdue.” 

The controversial amputation comes after an UN independent human rights expert said on Wednesday that the Islamic Republic had executed seven child offenders last year and two so far in 2019. 

Javaid Rehman told the UN General Assembly’s human rights committee that he held “credible information” suggesting Iran is holding at least 90 children on death row. 

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Under human right laws, the death penalty is not allowed to be handed down to anyone under the age of 18. 

But the hermit nation is not alone in meting out extreme punishments. 

In Saudi Arabia, anyone convicted of “sorcery” or drug trafficking as well as more serious crimes can be sentenced to death. 

The kingdom uses Sharia law and does not have a written penal code or code of criminal procedure and judicial procedure. 

This means courts are free to determine what exactly constitutes a crime. 

In April 37 people were killed in a mass execution in one day. 

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