But That Does Not Mean She Won’t Be Put To Death By Other Means
In a sign that Iran is finally hearing the choruses of international condemnation following its sentencing of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani to death by stoning for the offense of adultery, a statement was issued by the Iranian embassy in London confirming that Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani will now be spared death by stoning. However, the statement did not say whether Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani will be executed by other means, like hanging.
International Condemnations
Eversince 43-year old Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani exhausted her avenues of further appeal, international condemnations of Iran’s move to execute her by stoning rang out loud and clear. Alistair Burt, UK Foreign Office Minister, said that stoning is “a medieval punishment that has no place in the modern world.” Alistair Burt added that Iran’s continued use of this stoning execution “demonstrates a blatant disregard for international human rights commitments.” William Hague, UK Foreign Secretary said: “If the punishment is carried out, it will disgust and appal the watching world.”
William Hague added: “I call on Iran to put an immediate stay to the execution of Ms Mohammadi Ashtiani on the charge of adultery and review the process by which she was tried, and her sentence. She has already faced the disgraceful punishment of 99 lashes for adultery; her execution would disgust and appal the watching world.”
On the other side of the Atlantic, John Kerry, chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said: “Stoning is an appalling and barbaric punishment. The government of Iran should abolish this act as a legitimate form of punishment.”
Howard Berman, chairman of the US House Foreign Affairs Committee, added: “I am horrified by the Iranian Government’s plan to execute Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani and to do so in the cruellest way imaginable.
‘This is inhumane.”
About The Case
Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, a mother of two children, was first convicted in May 2006 for having “illicit relationship” with 2 men in Tabriz. For that, the court sentenced her to 99 lashes of the cane. A few months later, Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani was charged with murdering her husband. Then for some unknown reasons, the charge of murder was withdrawn. Instead, the court chose to reopen the inquiry into adultery charges. And later, by a 3-2 majority decision, the court convicted Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani of adultery, and sentenced her to death by stoning.
This case is also complicated by the fact that Iran’s parliament, according to lawyer Shadi Sadr, has passed a law removing death by stoning as a judicial punishment. Shadi Sadr said: ”Last year the Iranian parliament passed a law banning it, but the powerful Guardian Council has been silent on the issue.”
The Campaign To Save Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani
We now know more about the campaign mounted by the children of 43-year old Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani to save their mother. Having failed repeatedly to meet with top government and judicial officers, Sajad Ghadarzade, 22-year old son of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani wrote a letter to the International Committee Against Stoning and the Death Penalty, a human rights group. In that letter, Sajad Ghadarzade had a message for the chief of Iran’s judiciary, Ayatollah Sadeq Larijani, as follows: “I, as an Iranian citizen who has not yet succeeded in getting an audience with your office, say to you, the head of the judiciary who tells the television networks day in, day out, that justice must prevail and officials guilty of misconduct must be punished, that there is no justice in this country.” It seems that Sajad Ghadarzade had written hundreds of letters to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Ahmadinejad, and even made 6 trips to Tehran to meet them, but all these were unsuccessful. Neither replied to his letters, and neither agreed to see him either.
Earlier Sajad Ghadarzade and sister, 17-year old Farideh Ghadarzade appealed for international help, saying: “Today we stretch out our hands to the people of the whole world.” On CNN Sajad Ghadarzade pleaded for viewers to write letters of appeal to the Iranian authorities. He said: “All I ask for is a letter. I want a letter for my dear mother. Please write this letter of pardon because she is innocent, 100 per cent innocent.”
Later, before news that Iran has stopped the stoning execution of her mother, Sajad Ghadarzade said: “The campaign for her release is going very well. They gave me permission to talk to her and she was very thankful to the people of the world for supporting her. I’m very happy that so many have joined me in protesting this injustice. It was the first time in years I heard any hope in my mother’s voice.”
Those Who Responded Internationally
Among those who responded to the international appeal, and have signed up to campaign for the release of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani are playwright Sir David Hare, fashion designer Kather Hamnett, actors Juliette Binoche, Colin Firth and Emma Thompson, author Philip Pullman, film director Sir Richard Eyre, producer Lord Puttnam, philosopher A C Grayling. Politicians from both sides of the Atlantic have also joined in.
The Response From Iran
Iran’s response to international appeals and condemnations came in the form of a statement issued by its embassy in London. The statement said that the stoning execution on Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani would not go ahead, citing “information from the relevant judicial authorities.”
Regarding the worldwide condemnation of Iran over this case, the statement blamed the media for their unreliable reporting. It said: “This kind of punishment has rarely been implemented in Iran.”
What is not stated in the statement is whether Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani has been pardoned, or whether the mode of execution has changed, from stoning to, say, hanging.
Think About It
There are 12 other women currently waiting to be executed by stoning. All 12 women are convicted on adultery charges. If Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani is indeed spared the stoning execution, does this mean these other 12 women will also be spared stoning as well? Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani is fortunate to have a son who risked his life to launch an international appeal for her. Most time, women on death row are abandoned by their families for tainting their family honor. Who will fight for such women? Well known Iranian lawyer Shadi Sadr said concerning stoning execution: “Last year the Iranian parliament passed a law banning it, but the powerful Guardian Council has been silent on the issue.” If indeed parliament has banned death by stoning, then why do the court still impose this penalty? Why shouldn’t all who are on death row facing stoning execution have their stoning sentence changed? And why is the Guardian Council silent on this issue?
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Thank you for the information.
We must do something, our voices can be heard if we get together.