Iran has reportedly arrested the lawyer and the son of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, 43, as well as two “foreign nationals” who interviewed her family. Ashtiani is still set to be stoned to death for adultery. In the meantime, Iran continues to mix Sharia law with old-fashioned totalitarian repression.
The stoning has been delayed after global criticism. The Iranians are still debating whether to show “mercy” by hanging her.
Iranian public prosecutor Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejeie stated that the Islamic Republic was “suspicious about the manner of questioning” of the two foreigners and found that they lacked proper papers.
The German-based International Committees against Execution and Stonings said that its founder Mina Ahadi was on the phone with Ashtiani’s son Sajjad and her lawyer Javid Houtan Kian as they were being interviewed by journalists on Sunday. She heard shouting and then the phone went dead.
For civil liberties lawyers in the West, the arrest of lawyer Javid Houtan Kian is a reminder of the courage and sacrifice of our counterparts in other parts of the world. Likewise, her son has continued to fight for his mother despite the constant threats from the authorities. Unfortunately, the Iranians have confined the debate over the means, not the end, of the sentence for Ashtiani.
Source: BBC
UPDATE:
Allegedly turn out to have been the most appropriate word choice –
Iran Denies Freeing Condemned Woman
UPDATE: Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani allegedly freed by Iran.
“Iran has reportedly freed Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, the woman sentenced to death by stoning, after global outrage spurred campaigns around the world. The AFP is reporting that a German rights group is claiming she is at home.
‘We have got news from Iran that they are free,’ Mina Ahadi, spokeswoman for the Anti-Stoning Committee, is quoted as saying. According to the Guardian, rumors of the decision have been floating since a televised appearance:
Images from state-run Press TV showed her meeting her son Sajjad at her house in their hometown of Osku in northwestern Iran, boosting supporters’ hopes that she had been released.
The move came just weeks after Iran signalled for the first time that it might spare the life of Mohammadi Ashtiani, 43, a mother of two who has been in Tabriz prison since 2006 and faced execution by stoning for ‘having an illicit relationship outside marriage.'”
FUNNY how it’s always the womans fault!!!! apparently muslim men are perfect and do no wrong!! shows you just how fugged up they really are.
mespo,
What Blouise said.
Hmmm…I wonder how many Judges decide an issue based upon a religious conviction in the US?
What law….Well really is there some way that these folks are acting that are say like really any different than how we selectively enforce laws….
Surprise we are not in America today..
what mespo said … short, sweet and on target
“In the meantime, Iran continues to mix Sharia law with old-fashioned totalitarian repression.”
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A true distinction without a difference.