Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, an Iranian mother of two, faces imminent death, according to several International organizations. Sakineh Mohammedi Ashtiani was convicted of adultery in 2006 and now faces execution today, November 3.
Four years ago, the 43-year-old mother of two was charged in an Iranian court with killing her husband. She denied any wrongdoing and was cleared of murder at trial. But three out of the five male judges in the Islamic court decided that she was guilty of adultery.
Ashtiani was originally sentenced to death by stoning, but it was put on hold after an international outcry: Human-rights activists, celebrities such as Robert Redford, and politicians including Sen. John Kerry began campaigning for her release.
However, according to news received by the International Committee against Stoning and International Committee against Execution on 1 November 2010, the authorities in Tehran have given the go ahead to Tabriz prison for the execution of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani. It has been reported that she is to be executed this Wednesday, 3 November.”
The United States on Tuesday condemned reported plans by Iran to execute a woman accused of adultery whose case has provoked a world outcry.
"We condemn in the strongest terms the government of Iran's apparent plans to move forward in executing Ms. Sakineh Mohammadi-Ashtiani," a White House statement said.
"We call on the government of Iran to stop this execution, and provide Ms. Ashtiani with the due process and fair treatment she deserves," it said.
In a separate statement, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said that Iran's leaders "have failed once again to protect the fundamental rights of their own citizens, particularly women."
"Ms. Ashtiani's case has not proceeded with the transparency and due process guaranteed under Iranian law, and we are concerned about reports of coerced confessions and other mistreatment," Clinton said.
"The United States joins the international community in calling for Iran to immediately halt any plans for Ms. Ashtiani's execution and to handle her case with utmost transparency," she said.
It is comfortable and just for those in the West to condemn the barbaric practices in Iran. The death penalty for adultery is absurd. However, it is important to remember that Iran does not have the market cornered on barbarism and inhumanity. In many US states the death penalty is still a possibility.
Capital punishment is always wrong - East or West. The state should never take a life.
Comments
Sharia Law at work.
Barbarism and inhumanity are from the most religious states in the US. Religion is the most oppressive form of government any people have come up with. These sad times just proves that fact to the world. Only Global outrage will stop evil in the name of religion from being inflicted on its people.
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