Stoning woman's life could be spared, Iran's Human Rights chief says

[News_Editor]

Stoning woman's life could be spared, Iran's Human Rights chief says

2010-11-23 03:21:58 GMT+7 (ICT)

TEHRAN, IRAN (BNO NEWS) -- Mohammed Javad Larijani, the head of Iran's Human Rights Council on Monday said that the life of the woman sentenced to death by stoning could be spared as the case is under review.

"Our judiciary made a lot of efforts (in reviewing the case) and we think there is a good chance her life could be saved," Larijani said.

Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, 43, was sentenced to death twice by two courts in two separate trials in 2006. The first death sentence stemmed from her involvement in the murder of her husband in the northwestern city of Tabriz.

After the first sentence, Ashtiani was sentenced to death by hanging as she was later accused of being involved with two different men after her husband's murder a year before. In 2007, the first sentence was commuted to a sentence of ten years in prison by an appeals court.

However, the second sentence was changed to death by stoning by another appeals court on charges of adultery. Ashtiani was accused of having several relationships with other men, including one with the man convicted of her husband’s murder.

Several international agencies on human rights have advocated for Ashtiani's case and have demanded the Iranian government not to execute the woman. Amnesty International demanded Iranian authorities to immediately halt all executions and commute all death sentences.

Mina Ahadi, a human rights activist in Germany who helped Ashtiani's children launch a campaign internationally, said that at least 40 to 50 other women in Iran are facing the same punishment, despite Iran trying to minimize public stoning.

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