Ashtiani’s Sentence Could Be Dropped But Hanging Still Possible
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From Care2
Posted by Kristina Chew
Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, the Iranian woman and mother of two who was sentenced to death in Iran for allegedly committing adultery, may not face death by stoning. While prosecutors in East Azerbaijan province say that it is ‘possible’ that her original sentence may be dropped, she may still face death by hanging, the January 2nd Guardian notes.
Ashtiani was convicted of adultery in 2006. Sentenced to death by stoning, it is thought that support around the world has helped to keep her alive. Her sentence was commuted last year but she still could be hanged for the murder of her husband.
In an unusual, and potentially puzzling, move, Iranian authorities allowed Ashtiani to leave prison to speak to foreign media in Tabriz on January 1st. Ashtiani said that she intends to sue two German journalists from the newspaper Bild am Sonntag, on the grounds that they ‘”embarrassed”‘ her. The journalists, who (according to Iranian authorities) entered the country on a tourist visa without the necessary accreditation, were arrested after interviewing Ashtiani’s son, Sajjad Ghaderzadeh. Her son was detained but later freed.
Related | Fighting against the death penalty in Iran
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In her remarks to the foreign media, Ashtiani also ‘denied she had been tortured in prison and criticised Mina Ahadi, a prominent anti-stoning campaigner.’
As the Guardian states:
Not for the first time, it was difficult to distinguish between truth and propaganda by a regime anxious to deflect international anger over the case, which has highlighted the wider issue of human rights abuses in the Islamic Republic.
Indeed: Ashtiani is still in prison, as are the German journalists. One gets the feeling that what she said to the foreign media yesterday is very likely not the truth, but what she was told by someone—someones—to say.
Let’s keep the pressure on. Sign the petition to free Ashtiani and bring a permanent end to stoning.
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it is the heartless laws that should be hung out to dry!!!!
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