although other controversial death sentences have been reduced on appeal, aghajari refused to appeal the ruling, announcing through his lawyer that "those who have issued this verdict have to implement it if they think it is right or else the judiciary has to handle it." while in prison his family reported that aghajari's amputated leg stub was bruised and infected and that he was "unable to stand up, walk or use the prison's hygiene facilities." the human rights group, amnesty international, campaigned against the sentence.