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Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, a 43-year-old mother of two, convicted of adultery in Iran, may be stoned to death unless a last-minute campaign saves her.
Human-rights campaigners say that Ashtiani, who says she was under duress when she confessed to adultery, could be buried up to her breasts and stoned to death as soon as this weekend.
| Iranian Embassy: Widow won't be stoned | Associated Press | Thu Jul 8 | 5 | |
| Heather Reisman spearheads 11th-hour bid to save Iranian woman from stoning | The Globe and Mail | Fri Jul 9 | 7 | |
| Iran halts stoning of woman 'for time being' | Associated Press | Sat Jul 10 | 2 | |
| Iran halts woman's death by stoning | Guardian Unlimited | Thu Jul 8 | 1 |
Ashtiani was convicted of adultery and sentenced to 99 lashes. Later that year she was accused of murdering her husband. Those charges were dropped, but an inquiry into the adultery charge was reopened. She was, according to The Guardian, sentenced to death under a rule that allows judges to cite "judge's knowledge" and convict without evidence.
Iran appears to have backed down on stoning the woman:
LONDON (AFP) – Iran appeared Friday to have backed down over the stoning of a woman for adultery amid an international outcry, although her lawyer said she remained in jail and could still be executed by other means.
Instead, she may just be beheaded or shot.
Iran is it's own country with it's own laws, while you may not agree with them it is nothing any non-Iranian citizen has any say about. Sorry but that's the way it is. You don't like a country's laws don't go there and violate them. Being an Iranian she knew the possible consequences, yet she committed the offense anyway. Nobodies business but the Iranian people. Even if the whole world objects they still have the right to enforce their laws as they see fit. Only they can change their laws not anyone else, and if the Iranian people can't or don't want to that's their problem.
Iran is it's own country with it's own laws, while you may not agree with them it is nothing any non-Iranian citizen has any say about.
Yes, I do see where you are coming from... And I am not so naive to think, believe, or even hope that one country can afford to take on the woes and injustices of the world [especially when that one country has its own woes and injustices to contend with]. However, I am a proponent of Worldwide Basic Human Rights - irrespective of lines and government - and in the face of that, I cannot help but to have a say.
So I take full advantage of being fortunate enough to live "within the lines" of a government and country [U.S.A.] that allows me to have my say criticizing it or another country's shabby and inhumane treatment of another person.
I am also so fortunate to live in a country that will allow me to end this message with any of the following statements...
I criticize the hell out of this government [USA] cause that's what I'm supposed to do. I know I am supposed to, because I do it. But if it wasn't worthwhile, I would not criticize it and nit-pick it. When it comes down to it, the fact I *can* criticize this government and others with safety is a gift when looking at other countries.
God Bless America and EVERY citizen of every Government.
Feeling Unusually Patriotic, Digits
PS. Thanks for letting me soapbox on your message Pvt-Public. ;)
You do the soapbox great honor, Digits! We all need to keep in mind when we mount that soapbox that this is a right not shared around the world. For all its warts, this country has some seriously good stuff still going on, and we must not forget it - nor let it be eroded by extremists of any stripe.
What about the two men that forced themselves on her. What she "did" was not voluntary.
Isn't the everlasting double standard a convenient thing for those who perpetrate crimes on the innocent?
Pvt Public?
Ashtiani has been in prison since May 2006, when she was convicted of adultery and sentenced to 99 lashes. Later that year she was accused of murdering her husband. Those charges were dropped, but an inquiry into the adultery charge was reopened. She was, according to The Guardian, sentenced to death under a rule that allows judges to cite "judge's knowledge" and convict without evidence.
Where do you see that she DID the crime? It is true that she 'confessed'. Anyone will eventually confess under enough "duress". (confess or your family will suffer...)
She was convicted on "judge's knowledge". NO evidence.
Stoning - what brutal archaic barbarity! - should have gone out with the ark! So too the unmitigated, unforgiving, intolerant practice of Sharia Law.
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