This morning, the Toronto Star published an article stating that Iranian Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani would be hanged today for the murder of her husband. Sakineh was originally convicted of adultery, the punishment of which is execution by stoning.
However, after a conversation with the Iranian Foreign Minister, France's foreign minister stated that Sakineh will not be executed. This statement was published by Reuters online this morning.
Sakineh is 43 years old and the mother of two children. After international outcry and protest, Sakineh's original sentence of death by stoning for adultery was suspended. The charge of murder is still pending.
Iranian officials are still deciding her fate.
To sign a petition to save Sakineh, click here.
The stoning of Iranian women for adultery has been a publicized topic for many years. In 1986, an Iranian woman named Soraya M. was stoned to death for alleged adultery. Soraya's aunt, Zahra, recounted the story of her murder to French-Iranian journalist Freidoune Sahebjam, whose car broke down in their village. Freidoune turned the account into a bestselling novel, which then became a film in 2008, The Stoning of Soraya M.
Maybe it will take stories like these to open Iran's and other similar countries eyes and stop the cruelty and terrible things that happen to women. If these things are not made public, they would still be taking place and no one can influence in a decision that took place today. The decision was delayed and hopefully she lives on.
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