Iran confirms death by stoning sentence against woman
Published: Sunday, November 30, 2008
14:10GMT—9:10AM/EST
STONING – DEATH SENTENCE – JUSTICE
Washington, 30 November (IranVNC)—Iran’s Supreme Court has confirmed a sentence of death by stoning against a woman convicted of adultery in the southern city of Shiraz, the Etemad Melli newspaper reported yesterday.
The woman, who was identified as Afsaneh R., was also given a second death sentence for murdering her husband with the help of a man identified only as Reza, who she had an affair with, the report said.
According to the daily, Reza was sentenced to 15 years in jail for his role in the murder, and to 100 lashes for having an illegitimate relationship.
“Reports suggest that the verdict was reached relying on ‘the knowledge’ of the judge, a provision in Iranian law that enables a judge to determine sentences in an arbitrary and subjective manner,” the London-based Amnesty International said in a statement on 28 November.
The Supreme Court had on 4 August [21 Farvardin] confirmed the verdicts first issued on 9 April [14 Mordad], but the newspaper gave no reason for the delay in making the decision public.
Under Iranian law, adultery is punishable by stoning. Men sentenced to death by stoning are buried up to their waists and women up to their chests. The public then throws stones – not big enough to kill the person immediately – at the convicted.
Last August, Iran’s Judiciary said that it was placing a moratorium on sentences of death by stoning, pending a review of individual cases.
While Iran’s Judiciary chief, Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi, imposed a moratorium on the practice in 2002, judges have continued to occasionally issue this punishment.
“Reports about the verdict [against Afsaneh R.] cast doubt on the integrity of a statement by a judicial official, on the same day in August 2008, that execution by stoning had been suspended, as a result of which several women have had their sentences commuted,” Amnesty International said.
Sources: Etemad Melli newspaper, Amnesty International website
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