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Background on the Practice of Stoning in Iran
On the occasion of the fourth World Day Against the Death Penalty, Irene Khan, Secretary General of Amnesty International, said:
"I associate myself wholeheartedly with those in Iran who are campaigning so courageously, and at no small risk to themselves, to end the practice of execution by stoning.
It is appalling that some in authority in Iran have attempted to revive this obscene practice, despite the reported moratorium on such killings imposed by the Head of the Judiciary in 2002. Today, up to nine women and two men are under sentence of execution by stoning.
Execution by stoning is a grotesque and horrific practice. It aggravates the innate brutality of the death penalty, being specifically designed to increase the victim's suffering, and is the ultimate form of torture or cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment.
Stoning must be abolished. I call on the Iranian government to ensure that it is - immediately and totally."
According to reports at the time, in December 2002 Ayatollah Shahroudi, the Head of the Judiciary, sent a ruling to judges ordering a moratorium on execution by stoning, pending a decision on a permanent change in the law which was apparently being considered by the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
However, in May 2006 it was reported that Abbas (m) and Mahboubeh (f) were executed by stoning in a cemetery in Mahshhad, having been convicted of murdering Mahboubeh's husband, and of adultery - a charge which carries the penalty of execution by stoning. Part of the cemetery was cordoned off from the public and more than 100 members of the Revolutionary Guards and Bassij Forces, who had previously been invited to attend, reportedly participated in the stoning. Amnesty International wrote to the Head of the Judiciary seeking clarification of these reports, but to date has not received a reply.
A group of human rights defenders in Iran, who are mostly women, including activists, journalists and lawyers, have begun a campaign to abolish stoning. The campaign is being led by Shadi Sadr (f), a lawyer and women's rights defender. Amnesty International is working with women's activists in Iran and taking action on behalf of nine women under threat of execution by stoning.
AI previously took action on behalf of Ashraf Kalhori (see monthly update for August), and Hajieh Esmailvand (see UA 336/04, MDE 13/053/2004 and updates). This month, an Urgent Action was issued on behalf of the seven other women: Parisa was sentenced to execution by stoning for adultery, after being forced into prostitution by her husband due to family poverty. Iran was sentenced to stoning for adultery, which she denies, and five years imprisonment for being an accomplice to the murder of her husband. Khayrieh was sentenced to stoning for having an affair with a relative of her abusive husband. Shamameh Ghorbani (known as Malek), was sentenced to stoning for adultery. Kobra Najjar completed an eight year prison sentence for being an accomplice to the murder of her husband two years ago, and is now awaiting her stoning sentence for adultery to be implemented. She was allegedly forced into prostitution by her husband, who was violent towards her. Soghra Mola'i was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment for being an accomplice in the murder of her husband, and execution by stoning for adultery. Fatemeh faces execution by stoning for having an ‘illicit relationship'. The team is seeking information on the two men who have received a sentence of stoning. (UA 257/06, MDE 13/113/2006, 28 September 2006)
The climate in Iran for human rights defenders is dire. Iranian legislation severely restricts freedom of expression and association and human rights defenders often face reprisals for their work in the form of harassment, intimidation, attacks, detention, imprisonment and torture. Many are subject to travel bans that prevent them from leaving the country. Amnesty International is aware that those campaigning against the death penalty, including to abolish stoning, have been subjected to pressure and harassment. On 24 September 2006 at least 10 people were detained while demonstrating peacefully outside the United Nations office in Tehran. They were protesting against the expected imminent execution of several women, including Kobra Rahmanpour, Fatemeh Haghighat-pajouh, Nazanin Fathehi (a child offender) and Shahla Jahed. They were released later in the day after signing undertakings about their future actions. Amnesty International has received information that the group of human rights defenders campaigning to abolish stoning have been subjected to threats and harassment.
Iranian lawyer, journalist and human rights defender
Shadi Sadr has been the leader in initiating a campaign
against execution by stoning. She has been especially
active in the case of Ashraf Kalhori, a mother of four
who is at risk of execution by stoning for adultery.
She submitted a petition to Head of the Judiciary, Ayatollah
Shahroudi calling upon him to halt the execution. The
petition was signed by more than four thousand people,
including more than one hundred Iranian women's rights
activists. A temporary stay of execution was granted
but she still is under sentence of death. Shadi Sadr
had been nominated by AI as a participant to the Global
International Consultation on Women Human Rights Defenders
(WHRDs), which took place in Sri Lanka in 2005, but
was unable to attend due to the travel ban imposed against
her. She was awarded the Ida B. Wells Award for Bravery
in Journalism at the Women's eNews 21 Leaders for the
21st Century Gala in May 2004. You can find an informative
interview of Shadi Sadr that took place in July 2006
at www.faithfreedom.org
