An Iranian court judge has come up with a novel idea to get offenders back on the right path without lengthy jail terms: he issued an order that allows for the replacement of jail sentences for �light� crimes, with reading.

Qasem Naqizadeh, a judge in�the provincial city of�Gonbad-e Kavus, has set up�a new ruling that stipulates individuals convicted of�minor crimes should buy and read books instead of�serving long terms in�prison, IRNA agency reported.

Judge Naqizadeh pointed out�that such �punishments� are a good alternative to�imprisonment, which has �irreversible physical and psychological impact on�convicts and their families."

The alternative sentence can be applied for�teenagers and people who had committed infractions, misdemeanors and minor felonies. Recidivists are excluded from�the list of�those who are eligible.

Under the terms of�the ruling, violators are obliged to�buy five books from�a list of�approved texts, then read all of�them and write reviews that later are read by�judges. Offenders are obligated to�add quotes from�the Prophet Muhammad�s from�a collection of�sayings called hadith to�their book summaries. That makes punishments both educational and spiritual, BBC News noted.

The list of�approved texts was compiled by�local court judges, and all the books are supposed to�be left behind�after reading for�future law violators. The selection includes pieces �written in�a very simple way as�well as�sophisticated scientific ones,� Naqizadeh told IRNA.

"The books were chosen so that all prisoners could make use of�them, regardless of�their literacy level, knowledge or age," he added.

Naqizadeh said the measure would help to�lower the number of�fights between�detainees. And according to�Al Bawaba website, the measure may eventually lead to�a decrease in�the number of�prisoners in�the country.

By Sputnik