Sakineh

Update 14 October
The son and the lawyer of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani have been jailed. The woman was rescued from stoning by the international mobilization, but is now running the risk of being hanged. Also two journalists who were interviewing the men have been arrested. They had been warned by Iranian secret agents. Some news about them are available, while Sakineh's son and lawyer are held in incommunicado.

29 September
Sakineh runs risk of hanging
upon charge of murder
Renewed worry for Sakineh. The woman, already sentenced to stoning for adultery, runs the risk of being hanged for the murder of her husband. Her son Sajjad addressed a new appeal to Europe, Italy and the Pope by asking "to step in".
Italian Foreign Minister Mr. Frattini said the execution of Sakineh "would expose Iran to international isolation" and explained that "this idea of hanging is not definitive, the verdict is still two weeks away".

9 September
The world mobilizes for Sakineh
stoning upheld
The death sentence against Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani has been upheld. Following the large International mobilization and the unanimous resolution of the European Parliament that called for a sentence review, the spokesman of the Iranian government Mr. Ramin Mehmanparast declared that "the adultery verdict is now under review ".

"It is nothing but a very bashful beginning – said French philosopher Bernard Henri Levy -. The fight has yet to be won and we must obtain that this file review practically ensures pardon and liberation ".


3 September
The world mobilizes for Sakineh
calls against her stoning
International mobilization for Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani. The 43 years old woman is jailed in Tabriz and sentenced to death by stoning upon charges of adultery and complicity in her husband's murder. Sakineh confessed these guilts after being tortured.

Her portrait stands out on the palace of the Ministry of Equal Opportunities in Rome and is the symbol of many protest demonstrations all over the world. Fiamma Nirenstein and the Italian female MPs will send a letter to the UN Commission for Women's Condition where Iran obtained a seat last year to obtain a review of this decision and to stop Sakineh's stoning.Bernard Henri Levy wrote: “In the name of Sakineh, it is urgent to appeal to the authorities so that her death sentence, in whatsoever form, is cancelled, and the woman is released without delay, and her innocence is acknowledged. In Iran, every year, dozens women are sentenced to flogging, stoning and other appalling forms of punishment".
This letter was signed also by Milan Kundera, Jorge Semprún, Ségolène Royal, Rachida Dati, Simone Veil.

the letter

In her favour there is also a petition “for the respect of the dignity and freedom of Iranian women” reading out as follows: “Her crimes, in the opinion of the political-religious authorities of this Country? Adultery, which is neither a crime nor an offense. But, above all, the alleged complicity in a murder which she was compelled to confess, compelled to such extent that she then immediately retracted”. The text, among others, was signed by sociologist Edgar Morin and writer Marek Halter.

It is possible to join the online petition by connecting to the Website La Règle du Jeu (in French).

Marek Halter declared: “In my opinion todate women are the thermometres of humankind. We can tell all the world's chiefs of State without fearing to be wrong: show us how you treat women in your Country and we will tell you who you are”.

COMMENTS AND RESPONSES

Barroso: "Shocked by the verdict", The Parliament, 7 September 2010
"Dear Sakineh Ashtiani", Frankfurter Rundschau, 6 August 2010
Lombardi: "Vatican diplomacy is at work", The BBC, 5 September 2010
Timeline of the case, Le Monde's Iran blog, 8 September 2010