Thaindian News

September 6, 2010 (Pen Men at Work): The Vatican tried to save an Iranian woman from stoning by resorting to behind the door diplomacy on Sunday.

Vatican has condemned the brutal form of punishment saying that it did not support stoning as a punishment. The case has attracted the attention of media worldwide where the Iranian woman has had the penalty of stoning unto death imposed on her for committing adultery.

The spokesperson for the Vatican, Rev. Federico Lombardi said that the head church of the Christian world does not support any form of capital punishment whatsoever.

Sakineh Mohammad Ashtiani is a 43 year old woman who faces the punishment which was imposed after her husband’s murder trial in 2006. Sajad, her 22 year old son had campaigned for her release. The penalty was postponed after the story was picked up by the media all over the world causing uproar.

Her supporters do not seem to have much hope left as her son revealed that his mother has been at the receiving end of 99 whip lashes after her unveiled picture was printed in The Times last week. The Times has since then withdrawn the picture and said that the image had been that of another woman living in Sweden.

Sajad is also believed to have requested the Pope Benedict XVI for saving his mother. Rev. Federico Lombardi has however, denied receiving any formal appeal but said that the Vatican might use its diplomatic ties in order to free the condemned woman. He further added that the Holy See has been watching the events with interest.

However, Sajad fears that his mother might be hanged to death now as she had to face a mock execution trial last week.