Stop Stoning!
by jadefrank | July 15, 2010 at 2:10 PM
Dear Friends,
Last week, an Iranian woman, Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, was saved by global protests from being stoned to death.
But she may still be hanged -- and, meanwhile, execution by stoning continues. Right now fifteen more people are on death row awaiting stoning in which victims are buried up to their necks in the ground and then large rocks are thrown at their heads.
The partial reprieve of Sakineh, triggered by the call from her children for international pressure to save her life, has shown that if enough of us come together and voice our horror, we may be able to save her life, and stop stoning once and for all. Sign the urgent petition now and send it on to everyone you know -- let's end this cruel slaughter NOW!
http://www.avaaz.org/en/stop_stoning/?vl
Sakineh was convicted of adultery, like all the other 12 women and one of the men awaiting stoning. But her children and lawyer say she is innocent and that she did not get a fair trial -- they state her confession was forced from her and, speaking only Azerbaijani, she did not understand what was being asked of her in court.
Despite Iran's signing of a UN convention that requires the death penalty only be used for the "most serious crimes" and despite the Iranian Parliament passing a law banning stoning last year, stoning for adultery continues.
Sakineh's lawyer says the Iranian government "is afraid of Iranian public reaction and international attention" to the stoning cases. And after Turkey and Britain's Foreign Ministers spoke out against Sakineh's sentence, it was suspended.
Sakineh's brave children are leading the international campaign to save their mother and stop stoning. Massive international condemnation now could finally stop this sickening punishment. Let's join together today across the world to end this brutality.
In hope and determination,
Alice, David, Milena, Ben and the whole Avaaz team
SOURCES:
Iranians still facing death by stoning despite 'reprieve', The Guardian:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jul/08/iran-death-stoning-adultery
Britain condemns planned Iran stoning as 'medieval', AFP:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hjVdkvkzicGeInqw2R10r...
Comments
hard not to judge
Hi Jade
I have been following this lady and her plight on another site. It is hard to even know what to say it is so barbaric in my mind. I will do all I can to end murder in all its forms. Thanks for posting this.
Hugs
K-lee
K-lee Starland, Ph.D.
Stop Stop Stop
Dear Jade,
First of all, thanks for posting such kind of information. The news sounds very terrible and inhumane. To be frank, I can't think of why people are still not very open-minded and having such irrelevant attitudes in 21st Century. I have studied about death penalty and its controversy across the courtiers while I was studying Citizenship Education. In this case, some groups can approve her innocence and unfair treatment. And even can those who are torturing her show any of her serious disturbances to the community? Did someone hurt seriously because of her adultery which they accused? Obviously, she doesn't deserve those stoning and death sentence. Personally, I think no one is deserved to death penalty. A terrorist won't regret his crimes before he is killed in criminal court. I mean we should consider what can really tend to be a positive change.
I will strongly stand for Sakineh and I'll be a part of urgent partition.
Best regards,
Pollen@Shwe Wutt Hmon
Myanmar
Insha Allah
Barbaric
This is just barbaric, horrific and disgusting to hear. I cannot believe that they stiil do things like this. I have been following the story and was pleased to hear that it was postponed but saddened to hear that other means would be taken, just as they will take her life. to think this is 2010 on our way to 2011 and inhumane things are still taking place around the world. They treasure the animals more than the women in some countries. They worship animals in some countries. and yet, the do not hesitate to wip, stone or hang a woman. I am hoping with all of the support from around the world the woman will be given a fair chance to defend herself.
I believe that in many of these countries it comes down to power and control. To have control over their women is to have power. The women in these countries have been silenced for many years. Voices shut, ideas smashed and dreams buried as if they are non existent.
The best way to help the women from around the world is to spread the word, help them share their voice and bring awareness to the conditions and laws from other countries.
Thank you for posting this story.
Have a blessed day, Mia