AN URGENT petition has been launched to save the life of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, the Iranian woman sentenced to death by stoning, after reports yesterday that she was to be hanged imminently over alleged complicity in the murder of her husband.
The 43-year-old mother of two’s sentence was suspended in July in the face of an international outcry. But the International Committee against Stoning said on its website that Ms Ashtiani “is to be executed this Wednesday, 3 November”.
A spokeswoman for the German-based organisation said Iran was planning to go ahead with the execution, which could take place in the next few days.
The global civic advocacy network Avaaz.org responded to the reports by launching an online petition urging people “to send an emergency message directly to the leaders of Turkey, Brazil and key UN nations who could sway Iran to halt the execution”. The petition has already attracted more than 275,000 names.
The EU high representative, Lady Ashton, was said to be “deeply concerned” about the reports. “She demands that Iran halts the execution and converts her sentence,” a spokesman said.
The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office said it had been unable to confirm whether the reports of Ms Ashtiani’s imminent execution were true, but the minister for the Middle East, Alistair Burt, pressed the Iranian charge d’affaires for an update.
The sentence of death by stoning was suspended after it was condemned by the US, Britain and international human rights groups.
Human Rights Watch says Ms Ashtiani was first convicted in May 2006 of having an “illicit relationship” with two men following the death of her husband, and was sentenced by a court to 99 lashes.
However, she was later sentenced to death by stoning. – (Guardian service)