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PostPosted: Wed Aug 18, 2010 2:40 am 
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URGENT ALERT: IRAN
June 2010

Call on the Government of Iran to stop the imminent execution of Sakineh Mohammadi-Ashtiani sentenced to death by stoning

Equality Now is deeply concerned about Sakineh Mohammadi-Ashtiani, an Iranian woman sentenced to death by stoning for adultery.

Information received by Equality Now suggests that Ms. Mohammadi-Ashtiani has been sentenced to death by stoning for committing adultery with two men. The verdict is final and could be implemented at any time according to credible sources. Ms. Mohammadi-Ashtiani is said to have been in jail in Tabriz for the past five years. She was initially sentenced to 99 lashes on 15 May 2006 by a court in the city if Osku in the North West Iranian province of East Azerbaijan for the lesser crime of having “illicit relations” with the two men, in other words, engaging in conduct that did not constitute sexual intercourse. However, on 10 September 2006 her case was taken up again by a different court, the Sixth Branch of the Penal Court of East Azerbaijan Province, where the charge of adultery was brought against her.

Sakineh Mohammadi-Ashtiani denied the charge and, as far as Equality Now is aware, no relevant evidence was admitted against her. She was convicted solely on the basis of the judge’s opinion that she had committed adultery and was sentenced to death by stoning.

TAKE ACTION!

Iranian law indicates that a second charge on the same offence of which a person has already been convicted may not be brought. In this case Sakineh Mohammadi-Ashtiani has already been lashed for the offence of having illicit relations. We have been informed that two of the five councilors appointed by the court stated that in their opinion there was no legal proof for the charge of adultery.

Stoning to death violates the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) to which Iran is a state party. The ICCPR clearly prohibits torture, cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment and punishment. It also limits the imposition of the death penalty “only for the most serious crimes.” The United Nations Commission on Human Rights and the Human Rights Committee have determined that a wide range of specific offences fall outside the scope of the “most serious crimes” for which the death penalty may be imposed and this includes adultery. Equality Now opposes the criminalization of private acts in which consensual adults engage.

More info on taking action here:
http://equalitynow.org/english/takeacti ... 25_en.html

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Global Steering Committee Chair (2010-2015)
Global Team: Comms Lead (2009)
Local Event Organiser/Crew: Melbourne (2007, 2009-2017), Vancouver (2006)
New Melbourne Browncoats Inc - newmelbournebrowncoats.com


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PostPosted: Wed Aug 18, 2010 2:41 am 
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Past Local Event Organizer/Crew

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Melbourne, Australia


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Update 9 July 2010:
Equality Now welcomes the announcement from the Iranian Embassy in London that Sakineh Mohammadi-Ashtiani will no longer be stoned to death. However, we remain concerned for Ms Mohammadi-Ashtiani as her death sentence has not been commuted and her fate is unknown. Please continue to write to the authorities below calling on them to commute Ms Mohammadi-Ashtiani's death sentence, to commute all sentences of death by stoning, to prohibit by law all cruel, inhuman and degrading punishments and to remove all provisions that discriminate against, or have a discriminatory impact on, women, including those regarding adultery and fornication, in accordance with Iran’s own constitutional provision for equality before the law.

Update 26 July 2010:
Equality Now calls on Iranian authorities to rescind the arrest warrant issued against Sakineh Mohammadi-Ashtiani’s lawyer and to immediately and unconditionally release all members of his family held in custody.

Equality Now condemns the harassment of Sakineh Mohammadi-Ashtiani’s lawyer Mr Mohammad Mostafaei by Iranian authorities. Mr Mostafaei was summoned for questioning by the Iranian government authorities. He has been asked to attend for another round of interrogation and the information we have received is that an arrest warrant has also been issued in his name allegedly for fraud and corruption. Mr Mostafaei has now disappeared, we believe due to fear of being arrested and imprisoned. It is our understanding that authorities have arrested Mr Mostafaei’s wife and brother-in-law in order to force him to come forward. His current whereabouts are unknown and it is possible he might already be in custody.

Equality Now is deeply concerned about the serious and persistent threats to human rights defenders in Iran. Please call on the authorities listed below to immediately and unconditionally release of all Mr Mostafaei’s family members held in custody, rescind any arrest warrant issued against Mr Mostafaei and allow Mr Mostafaei to carry out his legitimate duties without interference. Please also continue to call for Sakineh’s immediate release as she remains under threat of execution.

Update 13 August 2010:
Sakineh Mohammadi-Ashtiani’s lawyer Mr. Mohammad Mostafaei has been granted asylum in Norway after fleeing Iran. It has also been reported that Mr. Mostafaei’s wife and brother-in-law have been released from prison. Equality Now welcomes news of their release and that Mr. Mostafaei is safe from harassment, however we remain concerned about the welfare of Sakineh Mohammadi-Ashtiani who remains under threat of execution. Please continue to write to officials below to call for her immediate release.

_________________
Global Steering Committee Chair (2010-2015)
Global Team: Comms Lead (2009)
Local Event Organiser/Crew: Melbourne (2007, 2009-2017), Vancouver (2006)
New Melbourne Browncoats Inc - newmelbournebrowncoats.com


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