Iran Says Woman Sentenced to Death by Stoning Still in Custody - Voice of America

Iran Says Woman Sentenced to Death by Stoning Still in Custody

VOA News 10 December 2010

Photo: AP

A women poses during a demonstration of the National Council of Resistance of Iran against stoning and death penalty in Berlin, Germany (File)

Iranian state television says a woman who has been sentenced to death by stoning has not been freed, contradicting an earlier report by a European human rights group.

A statement issued Friday by Press TV denounced news that Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani had been released as a "vast publicity campaign by Western media."  

The German-based International Campaign Against Stoning announced Ashtiani's release Thursday, apparently basing its report on still pictures broadcast over Press TV of Ashtiani with her son.  

But the state-run outlet said the images were taken from a documentary to be aired Friday in which she recounts the murder of her husband.

The 43-year-old Ashtiani was convicted and sentenced to die in two different trials in 2006, both related to her husband's death.  The stoning sentence was for her conviction of having an "illicit relationship" with two men after the murder.  

She was also sentenced to hang for her involvement in her husband's murder, but that sentence was commuted in 2007 to ten years in prison.

The stoning sentence sparked worldwide protests and a campaign for her release.

Ashtiani's son and lawyer were arrested back in October, along with two German journalists who were interviewing them.  

Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

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Comments (8)

10-12-2010 behee (iran)

please be doubtful at any accusation that comes out of Iran.The barberic mullas accuse any one who utter against them with some emphty and wrongful charges.

10-12-2010 Chloe` (US)

This is absolutely ridiculous.

10-12-2010 Dan (U.S.)

He who is with-out sin, Cast the first Stone. This is unacceptable no matter the crime and is a disgrace to the human race to allow such attrocities permitted even in the court of law. What are we living in the midevil times where people will still be burned at the stake for alleged crimes? The people who follow orders blindly to execute someone in this fashion have the greater sin.

10-12-2010 A smart Student (US)

How can someone do this to a person? I bet they don't even have solid evidence of what she did. Someone needs to control Iran's punishments because this is inhumane.

10-12-2010 Tom (USA)

Absolutely no regard for human life whatsoever! Sad that in this day and age this type of barbarism still exists.

10-12-2010 mikey likes it (usa)

She is only a woman and should respect authority!

10-12-2010 Gus Yong (Canada)

These people should wake up & smell the roses . . this poor humn has been put through enough

10-12-2010 Beverly (usa)

This has been going on for 1,000 yrs...why act so surprised..you need to watch your own country..

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