Global outcry forces Iran to cancel stoning of adulterous woman
July 9th, 2010 - 6:56 pm ICT by ANI
London, July 9 (ANI): Bowing to international pressure, Iran has said that it will not stone a woman to death after she was convicted of adultery.
The Iranian embassy here issued a statement, saying “according to information from the relevant judicial authorities in Iran, Sakineh Mohammadi-Ashtiani will not be executed by stoning.”
The Telegraph said that the statement did not say whether the 43-year-old would be spared or executed by hanging instead.
Human rights group Amnesty International has said that Mohammadi-Ashtiani was convicted in 2006 or 2007 and has previously received a flogging of 99 lashes.
The United States and Britain have led global condemnation of the planned stoning execution.
British Foreign Secretary William Hague labelled the punishment “medieval”, saying it would “disgust and appal” the rest of the world.
In Washington, State Department spokesman Mark Toner said: “Stoning as a means of execution is tantamount to torture. It’s barbaric and an abhorrent act.”
A host of prominent names from the worlds of politics and arts signed an open letter condemning the planned stoning.
Signatories included former US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice, three former British foreign ministers, and Jose Ramos-Horta, East Timorese president and a Nobel Peace Prize laureate.
American actors Robert De Niro and Robert Redford also signed, as did French actress Juliette Binoche and French philosopher Bernard-Henri Levy. (ANI)
- Celebrities sign open letter urging Iran to release 'death by stoning' woman - Dec 14, 2010
- Carla pleads for woman sentenced to stoning in Iran - Aug 24, 2010
- Paris, Tehran blast Iran media insults of Carla Bruni - Aug 31, 2010
- Brazil makes formal offer of asylum to convicted Iranian woman - Aug 11, 2010
- Iran Denies Freeing Woman Sentenced to Stoning Death - Dec 11, 2010
- Iranian 'adultress' to be executed Wednesday - Nov 02, 2010
- Iran imposes media blackout over woman facing stoning sentence - Jul 10, 2010
- Iran brands Carla Bruni 'adulteress' - Nov 10, 2010
- Iranian woman sentenced to death by stoning 'was sold for sex to fund husband's drug addiction' - Dec 16, 2010
- Iranian 'stoning-to-death' woman "surprised" over reports of 99 lashes for indecency - Sep 09, 2010
- Stoning of Iranian woman 'barbaric': EU - Sep 08, 2010
- Iranian woman could still be 'stoned to death' for adultery, murder, says Chief prosecutor - Sep 29, 2010
- 'Iran says 'no final decision taken on 'stoning to death' woman's execution' - Nov 04, 2010
- Iranian woman, to be stoned to death, may get hanged - Dec 26, 2011
- Iran Ministry slams media for Carla Bruni 'prostitute' slur - Sep 01, 2010
Tags: amnesty international, bernard henri levy, condoleezza rice, east timorese, french philosopher, global outcry, human rights group, jose ramos horta, juliette binoche, mark toner, nobel peace prize, nobel peace prize laureate, robert de niro, sakineh, secretary of state condoleezza rice, state condoleezza rice, state department spokesman, stoning execution, washington state department, william hague