Iran: Children appeal for help in saving mother from execution
Woman convicted of having sex with two men who murdered her husband sentenced to death by stoning. Her children write letter distributed in nine languages in desperate bid to save her life
Sakine Mohammadi Ashtiani, a 40-year-old Iranian citizen, is facing death by stoning for allegedly having sex with two men who murdered her husband. In a last minute effort to save their mother, her two children issued a letter to world citizens requesting they press Tehran authorities to retract the sentence.
Ashtiani, a resident of Tabriz in Iran's northwest, has been imprisoned for five years. She was initially sentenced to 99 floggings for extra-marital sex. Her sentenced was later changed to death by stoning in accordance with Sharia laws stipulating that punishment for adultery is death by either hanging or stoning.
In their letter, which was distributed via the internet, Fasride and Sajjad Mohamamadi Ashtiani expressed their hope that waves of protest around the world, particularly by Iranian expatriates would lead authorities to retract the brutal punishment. "Help to prevent this nightmare from becoming reality. Save our mother. We are unable to explain the anguish of every moment, every second of our lives. Words are unable to articulate our fear," the letter stated. It was distributed in nine languages, including Hebrew.
'No progress made'
The mother's lawyer, Attorney Mohammad Mostafaei, said that the sentence is scheduled to be implemented soon and noted he recently met with his client and spoke to her about the punishment. "She is naturally in poor spirits. Whoever faces a death sentence goes crazy in a situation such as this."
The lawyer expressed hope that international pressure and appeals for a pardon would help rescue Ashtiani. "Unfortunately, no progress has been thus made. I hope the letters sent to the judicial authority would help and she will receive a pardon," he said.
Iran's penal law stipulates that women sentenced to stoning are buried up to their chest and then pelted with small stones until they die. The law forbids the use of stones which may cause instant death.
Letter from the Children of Sakine Mohammadi:
Protest Against our Mother’s Stoning - Do not allow our nightmare become a reality.
Today we stretch out our hands to the people of the whole world. It is now five years that we have lived in fear and in horror, deprived of motherly love. Is the world so cruel that it can watch this catastrophe and do nothing about it?
We are Sakine Mohammadi e Ashtiani’s children, Farideh and Sajjad Mohamamadi e Ashtiani. Since our childhood we have been acquainted with the pain of knowing that our mother is imprisoned and awaiting a catastrophe. To tell the truth, the term “stoning” is so horrific that we try never to use it. We instead say our mother is in danger, she might be killed, and she deserves everyone’s help.
Today, when nearly all options have reached dead-ends, and our mother’s lawyer says that she is in a dangerous situation, we resort to you. We resort to the people of the world, no matter who you are and where in the world you live. We resort to you, people of Iran, all of you who have experienced the pain and anguish of the horror of losing a loved one.
Please help our mother return home!
We especially stretch our hand out to the Iranians living abroad. Help to prevent this nightmare from becoming reality. Save our mother. We are unable to explain the anguish of every moment, every second of our lives. Words are unable to articulate our fear…
Help to save our mother. Write to and ask officials to free her. Tell them that she doesn’t have a civil complainant and has not done any wrong. Our mother should not be killed. Is there any one hearing this and rushing to our assistance?
Farideh and Sajjad Mohammadi e Ashtiani
Disseminated by the Committee Against Stoning
Mina Ahadi
+49 177 569 2413
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