Iran stoning woman's life could be spared
There is a "good chance" that the life of an Iranian woman sentenced to death by stoning for adultery could be spared, the head of Iran's High Human Rights Council said in an interview aired today.
"Our judiciary made a lot of efforts (in reviewing the case) and we think there is a good chance her life could be saved," Mohammed Javad Larijani told Iran's English-language Press TV.
Larijani, who was speaking in English, did not give details of the judiciary's review of the Sakineh Mohammadi-Ashtiani case or the basis of his optimism that her life would be spared.
His council works under the judiciary's auspices.
The sentence handed down against Mohammadi-Ashtiani sparked international outrage and diplomatic intervention by several Western governments as well as the Vatican.
In July, Tehran said that the sentence to death by stoning had been stayed pending a full review of her case.
Mohammadi-Ashtiani, a 43-year-old mother of two, was initially given death sentences by two different courts in the northwestern city of Tabriz in separate trials in 2006.
A sentence to hang for her involvement in the murder of her husband was commuted to a 10-year jail term by an appeals court in 2007.
But a second sentence, to death by stoning on charges of adultery levelled over several relationships, notably with the man convicted of her husband's murder, was upheld by another appeals court the same year.
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Martin Cassar
Nov 22nd 2010, 16:49
How far are we credible when breaching others about human rights? Are we turning human rights into political tools?
What has happened during the past few months in both USA and Japan proved that human rights are mere political tool I am afraid! This is in my humble opinion is uglier than the execution!
EU High Representative Catherine Ashton along with our Dr. Borg who few weeks ago called on the Tehran government to revoke its decision to execute 43-year-old mother of two, Sakineh Mohammadi -Ashtiani miserably failed to issue one single sentence to condemn USA’s execution? Why was that? How would you interpret this?
Are EU human rights universal and our politicians really keeps humans at heart? If so, could Dr. Borg and Ms. Ashton issue a five words sentence to condemn USA’s execution? I candidly challenge both of them to do so!
Why was all the fuss when an identical decision for execution were taken by Iran? Is this because Iran is much closer too Israel? or what? And once at it, why both the Vatican and the Pope were also keeping mum over several executions that took place in the USA?
Mary Smith
Nov 22nd 2010, 21:36
The reason why you did not hear much protest for the US executions is probably because the judiciary system in the US, while it has the death penalty, is based on Western civilized laws, where the guilt has to be proven in front of a jury of peers, and not just on the basis of 7th century Bedouin misogynistic laws.
Having said that, I am against the death penalty in principle, EXCEPT in cases where there is irrefutable proof, for example the recent case of an Air Force Base Commandant in Canada who videotaped his murders. Alas, Canada does not have the death penalty so the taxpayers have to pay for this monster's stay in prison, where he will enjoy a comparatively long and easy life.
Martin Cassar
Nov 23rd 2010, 16:33
@ Mary Smith.
Given the fact that Iran has been there couple of millenniums before the very existence of both the USA and Israel ( USA is 300+ years old and Israel is 60+ years old).
Are you saying that a section of today’s USA penal code has been partially established on 7th century Bedouin misogynistic laws of Iran? Am I getting you correct please?
In my books execution is barbaric whether it’s carried out by poisoned chocolates, electric chairs or swords this is actually irrelevant. Equally I believe that terrorism is evil and must be condemned weather it’s carried out by means of car-bomb, suicide bomber or dropping a nuclear bombs over a country.