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Sakineh Mohammadi-Ashtiani Will Not Be Stoned to Death

by Amy Judd | July 8, 2010 at 12:06 pm

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Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani Will Still Be Sentenced to Death, But the Iranian Embassy in London Has Confirmed it Will Not Be Death by Stoning

As reported by Channel 4 and confirmed by the Iranian Embassy in London, 43-year-old Sakineh Mohammadi-Ashtiani will not be stoned to death after an international campaign to save her was launched.

This is a shallow victory however, as she still faces the death penalty and will be put to death by another means.

Her son, 22-year-old Sajad Ghader-zade, started the campaign to save his mother who was convicted of the crime of adultery in 2006 after receiving 99 lashes. She later retracted her confession and denied any act of adultery, but the ruling was upheld in 2007 by Iran's supreme court. According to the BBC she was convicted of having 'illicit relationships' with two men after the death of her husband.

The Iranian Embassy has issued the following statement:

"Considering the statements made by the Foreign Office Minister Alistair Burt on an Iranian national, Mrs Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, and her execution, hereby this mission denies the false news aired in this respect and notifies the Ministry that according to information from the relevant judicial authorities in Iran, she will not be executed by stoning punishment.

"It is notable that this kind of punishment has rarely been implemented in Iran and various means and remedies must be probed and exhausted to finally come up with such a punishment.

"It should be added that the stoning punishment has not been cited in the draft Islamic Penal Code being deliberated in the Iranian Parliament.

"The Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran highly recommends that news and reports should not be taken for granted and considered a reliable source of information for official statements or misjudgements."

According to Human Right Watch's Middle East women's right researcher Nadya Khalife who spoke to Channel 4 news, about 15 people have been saved from stoning deaths since 2006 due to international pressure. She said that in Iran stonings do happen but they are not as common as some would think.

"There are a few cases every year – but every case is abhorrent and this is an unacceptable form of punishment.

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Germán (not verified)

at 14:58 on July 8th, 2010

What a load of rubbish we are seeing from our fellow Westerner self-proclaimed humanitarians really. It seems like everybody has a collective mental slip and, oh coincidence, nobody remembers to mention this woman is being accused of murdering her husband together with her lover. Nah, when it comes to criminals in Iran, lets turn each and every one of them into a poor oppressed freedom fighter... Speechless really, not even Iranian media could possibly be more fanatic Soviet-style propaganda like, advocating last minute humanitarianism on every single criminal of the Western world.

Mary K (not verified)

at 15:50 on July 8th, 2010

It is unfortunate that some people will comment on false information. Many reputable media sources worldwide report that Sakineh Ashtiani was a widow who was accused of an "illicit relationship" after the death of her husband. Because she was accused of this illicit relationship she was imprisoned. Sharia Law requires 4 witnesses to the indiscretion...there were none. She and her family professed her innocence. She was made to "confess" under duress in prison. Her trial was held and she did not speak the language (she speaks Turkish). She was sentenced to be flogged. Her son witnessed it. She was tossed back into prison, and while she was recovering from been brutalized, she recanted her coerced confession and reasserted her innocence. She was then accused of murdering her husband but was ACQUITTED. During her murder trial the illicit relationship thing was reopened, then deemed adultery, and although several judges voted against her convicted, one or two without evidence felt she was guilty and condemned her to stoning...these are the facts as reported worldwide, including sources in Middle East, etc. and can be found be anyone who has the slightest interest in doing any research before condemning this woman.

catgirl (not verified)

at 19:42 on July 8th, 2010

leave it to the "peace-loving, god-fearing" people of islam to accuse & murder unjustly. a religion of hate & satan worship

t k kidwai

at 15:53 on July 9th, 2010

@catgirl(not verified)What are your views on Luciferian president George W. Bush?Don't you know that he worships Lucifer,your favourite god?

B Mac (not verified)

at 05:23 on July 9th, 2010

This type of savagery does not belong in the modern world. Iranian authorities should spare this poor woman and set her free to be with her family. Show the world that Iran does not live in the stone ages but in fact a modern age power.