interviewed in Oslo, Farsi with subtitles
Montag, 23. August 2010
Freitag, 6. August 2010
Mohammad Mostafaei gives interview from Turkey
Mohammad Mostafaei, the lawyer who became known worldwide for his defense of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, had been reported missing for several days after being questioned by Iranian authorities on 24 July 2010. Then word came that Mostafaie was 'detained' in Turkey. After a period of confusion over his situation, Mostafaie has given an interview to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty in which he talks about his detention in Iran, the arrest of family members, and his determination to carry on his work, even from outside Iran.
Mostafaie says: " I never thought that there would be so much lawlessness in our judiciary", and describes the authorities using his wife as a 'hostage' as "definitely not Islamic".
The full interview can be read here:
During this week the hopeful news that Ashtiani had been offered asylum in Brazil seems to have been dashed by a cold response from Iran. Ashtiani's fate still hangs in the balance and her story, along with those of the others still under sentence of stoning, should not be forgotten.
Montag, 2. August 2010
Brazil offers Ashtiani safe haven
Brazil president Lula has stepped into the case of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, to offer the imprisoned woman a safe haven. Lula had previously said he could not intervene.
While this is good news, more than 10 people are still under a sentence of death by stoning - Lula must continue to use his friendship with Iran president to protect these individuals too. And remember Ashtiani's lawyer Mohammad Mostafaei remains in hiding after being interrogated, while members of his family are being used to threaten him into compliance.
Story:
Freitag, 23. Juli 2010
Donnerstag, 15. Juli 2010
The shadow of stoning remains!
Following the campaign to save Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani from stoning (and do not let up, some say the sentence is still in place), there are still other women at risk of death by stoning - firstly Maryam Ghorbanzadeh is a pregnant 25 year old and when she has had her baby the sentence will be carried out. Then there is a 19 year old, Azar Bagheri, who was arrested at only 15. In addition to the mental torture of knowing her sentence, Azar has twice been subjected to a "mock execution" when she has been buried up to her chest as if to be stoned.
Read more here:
Dr Zahra Rahnavard:
"I am a strong supporter of women's rights and against all forms of discrimination against women. I have never seen stoning discussed any where in the holy Quran. I believe that this discussion does not exist in the holy Quran and my personal studies of the Quran have only shown compassion towards humanity. I am highly critical of any form of discrimination against women, do not view these laws as Islamic and believe that they must be corrected. I will never compromise on this issue and have personally prepared myself for the gallows."
Freitag, 9. Juli 2010
Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani reprieved; 15 Iranians still face stoning death
Campaign to save Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani appears successful; but 12 women and 3 men still await execution by stoning including 19 year old woman accused at only 15 year of age.
"Shadi Sadr, an acclaimed Iranian lawyer, said it was hard to know exactly how many people were still facing stoning. Last year the Iranian parliament passed a law banning it, but the powerful Guardian Council has been silent on the issue.
"Many women are kept in prison because the government is very scared of the public attention," Sadr said. "One of my clients has been there for eight years and her family have abandoned her."
Publicity helps. "The only reason the Iranian government has not carried out stoning sentences on all these people is that it is afraid of Iranian public reaction and international attention," said Sadr."
Freitag, 18. Juni 2010
Iran fails to block UN Human Rights Council criticism
After seeing little support for the bid to get seat on UN Human Rights Council, Iran has now been the subject of a strongly worded statement from the HRC expressing concerns over the situation in Iran:
“We cannot let this Human Rights Council’s session go by without marking the one year anniversary of these events this month.”
[Fa/En]
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