Iranian authorities have reportedly ordered that Sakineh Ashtiani be executed for adultery tomorrow, and protesters are mounting a last-ditch effort to save her.
A press release by the International Committee Against Stoning (whose website appears to be experiencing problems) says, “the authorities in Tehran have given the go ahead to Tabriz prison for the execution of Iran stoning case Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani. It has been reported that she is to be executed this Wednesday 3 November.” The committee also reports that Ashtiani’s son and lawyer were arrested on October 10, and “have been severely tortured in order to obtain confessions against Sakineh and themselves.” Reports on whether Ashtiani will actually be stoned or executed in some other way have been conflicting, and according to Fox News, the method of the upcoming execution is still unknown.
The committee is planning protests in Paris and Brussels today in an eleventh-hour effort to stop the execution — their website also urges Ashtiani supporters to contact their own governments and ask them to “immediately summon the Islamic Republic of Iran’s ambassadors and demand that Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani’s execution be stopped and that she along with her son, Sajjad Ghaderzadeh, and lawyer, Houtan Kian, and the two German journalists be immediately released.” The site also lists contact information for Iranian officials. Bernard-Henri Levy’s “Free Sakineh” petition now has over 350,000 signatures. Not helping: the New York Post, which decided a good headline for this story was “Death fear for Iran gal.”
Iran Plans To Execute Woman In Stoning Case [Fox News]
Act Now To Stop Imminent Execution Of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani [International Committee Against Stoning]
Death Fear For Iran Gal [NY Post]