Sajjad is Freed, and Pleads for Clemency in His Mother's Case

PR 115
January 1, 2011

Sajjad is Freed, and Pleads for Clemency in His Mother's Case
Sakineh, Houtan and the Two German Journalists Should Be Released Immediately

According to the news that has been disseminated by different media outlets, the son of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, Sajjad Ghaderzadeh, who was released on bail from Tabriz prison, told the foreign mass media today, January 1st, that he hopes for clemency with regard to his mother's sentence of stoning and execution. Sajjad, under pressure from 3 months of solitary confinement, torture, and threats, denied of the right to any lawyer or any connection to the outside world, was forced to speak against his mother and told the foreign reporters that Sakineh has had a hand in his father's death. This [forced confessions] is the way the Islamic Republic has behaved towards prisoners for decades, and today, not only people in Iran but many across the world are familiar with this inhumane practice of the Islamic Republic.

The Islamic Republic, confronted by the powerful international campaign to save Sakineh, suspended [indefinitely] Sakineh's stoning sentence, but still is seeking an opportunity to execute her. The danger of execution still threatens Sakineh, and especially in the current situation, when the Islamic Republic has resorted to implementing an increasing number of executions, the danger of Sakineh's execution is more acute than ever.

The International Committees against Execution and Stoning once again strongly condemn the Islamic Republic's forced confessions from prisoners, demands commutation of Sakineh's execution sentence, and demands immediate unconditional release of Sakineh, Sakineh's lawyer Houtan Kian, and the two German journalists. Any kind of bail and fabricated case against Sajjad should be canceled and annuled.

Once again, we call upon the people of the world to enter the arena and, in whatever possible form, pressure the Islamic Republic to rescue Sakineh and free all political prisoners.

International Committee Against Stoning
International Committee Against Execution
Spokesperson: Mina Ahadi minaahadi@aol.com 0049-177-569-2413