Sakineh Ashtiani - honorary citizen of Vénissieux

The town council of Vénissieux, a municipality in the suburbs of Lyon (France), decided to make Sakineh Ashtiani an honorary citizen of Vénissieux.

In a ceremony on Friday 5 November the town council adopted the motion to support Sakineh Ashtiani and against stoning in Iran. The town's mayor Ms Michèle Picard wrote a letter in which she said that the motion is also for "all this girls and women who are suffering in silence" and added "Sakineh is the symbol of all the women who are victims of violence. Tens of thousands of them are every year subjected to psychological and physical torture or to stoning, their freedom and dignity are in danger every day. Their wish to resist and to live freely is strong but without the support of international solidarity their hope can be broken".

Translation of the motion :

"MOTION SAKINEH MOHAMMADI ASHTIANI - HONORARY CITIZEN

Considering the risk of stoning that Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani is facing ;

Considering that the death penality should be abolished in the 58 countries where it's still being practiced ;

Considering that stoning is a barbaric act, that cannot be justified by any reason, that it's a crime against humanity that should be abolished everywhere and forever ;

Considering that Sakineh is a victim of the violation of womens rights and that she is the symbol of all the women who were stoned or who are in danger of being stoned, victims of oppression, segregation and discriminations ;

Considering the wave of global solidarity that is necessary to save Sakineh and all the others who are threatened by stoning ;

The Town Council decide :

- To support actions to demand her freedom

- To support actions against stoning

- To make the commitment of the town known to its fellow citizens by all useful means: municipal publications, internet page of the town, meetings...

- To make this information known to :

--- The ambassy of Iran in France

--- Nicolas Sarkozy, President of the Republic

--- Organisations and associations who are acting for Sakinehs freedom

The motion in its French original

Sakineh Ashtiani's new layer

Bruno Malattia, an Italian lawyer has taken on to defend Sakineh Ashtiani, her son Sajjad and Houtan Kian. Here is his first letter to the EU and copied to the heads of the Islamic regime in Iran.





S T U D I O L E G A L E M A L A T T I A
33170 PORDENONE – Via Cavallotti 1
Fax 27467
e mail: segreteria@studiomalattia.it

Avv. Bruno Malattia Avv. Augusto Cassini
Avv. Antonio Malattia Avv. Daniela Donadel
Avv. Cesare Malattia Avv. Sara Furlan
Dott. Gloria Favret


By e-mail
PRESIDENT OF EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT
Mr. JERZY BUZEK
Europarl.President.Press@europarl.europa.eu

copy to
SUPREME LEADER OF IRAN
ALI KHAMENEI
http://www.leader.ir/langs/en/index.php?p=letter

HEAD OF THE JUDICIARY
SADEQH LARIJANI
info@dadiran.ir

HEAD OF THE JUDICIARY
IN EAST AZERBAIJAN PROVINCE
MALEK-ASHTAR SHARIFI

SECRETARY GENERAL
HIGH COUNCIL OF HUMAN RIGHTS
MOHAMMAD JAVAD LARIJANI
bia.judi@yahoo.com


Pordenone, 6 novembre 2010


International Committee against Stoning –Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani

I write on behalf of the International Committee against Stoning, which asked for my legal assistance in all the initiatives that are taking place in Europe against the stoning of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani.

The Committee I represent means to thank You and the European Parliament for the special commitment in Sakineh’s case and in Human Rights defence in Iran.

We want at the same time focus Your attention on the general climate of intimidation and threat that reigns in Iran and that puts lawyers in danger for their life or freedom, restraining them from the possibility to defend Sakineh and her family.

The Committee is confident that the European Parliament will make itself heard about these issues and will support all the actions that we mean to take to guarantee and protect not only the Right to Life of Iranian people but also their Right of Defence and to a fair trial.

With the highest esteem, Yours respectfully,

Bruno Malattia

To all those who have campaigned to save Sakineh’s life

A message from Mina Ahdi and Asqar Karimi
4 November 2010

Your two days of round-the-clock struggle have again saved Sakineh from execution and put the Islamic Republic in its place. These two days are unforgettable and must be recorded in the history of all justice-loving people in the world.

Soon after receiving the news of Sakineh’s imminent execution by the Islamic Republic, which was publicised by the Committee against Execution and Stoning, there was such a storm directed at the Islamic Republic that it forced them to nullify their plan to commit the crime. In the space of only 24 hours, half a million people sent letters of objection, approximately two million protest messages were sent via twitter, the news was headlined in the majority of global news media, there were interviews with the heads of the ‘Save Sakineh campaign’ and many demonstrations were organised. More than ten governments protested against the Islamic Republic and condemned the death sentence.

This is how another great episode in the campaign to save Sakineh opened and a proud page has turned in the history of the struggle of people of the world against the horrendous and criminal Islamic Republic. In truth, what we are witnessing is the confrontation of humanity standing against the inhumane fossils of history. For those who want to make history, rather than be a victim of it, and for those who do not wait for governments decisions but on the contrary dictate what has to be done, this was without a doubt a great event and an important political occasion.

The Islamic Republic’s setback is temporary, but the result of this campaign is permanent. It demonstrated the influence of the people of the world and made it clear to the heads of the Islamic Republic, who have nothing to show for their dark history of thirty-one years in power but crime, that a great wave of solidarity for Sakineh and the Iranian people is gathering momentum and that the Iranian people, who are struggling to topple this regime to gain freedom and a justice life, deeply need this support.

On behalf of the International Committees against Execution and Stoning, we salute you sincerely. Your urgent action made it clear that we can save Sakineh, Sajad and Hutan, and the German journalists, and secure the release of all those under sentence of stoning and thousands of political prisoners from the claws of this regime. The Iranian people, in their great historic struggle to save themselves and all humanity from a government that brings shame to all humanity, are counting on you.

Long live to you all
Long live to justice and humanity

Mina Ahadi, spokesperson and Asqar Karimi, coordinator of the International Committee against Execution and Stoning.

Statement by the International Federation of Iranian Refugees on the Striking Asylum Seekers in Greece

The refugee detention centers in Greece are packed with Iranian, Iraqi and Afghan asylum seekers. It is reported that refugees, the sick and the healthy, are crammed into salons at decaying old detention centers. These locales have nothing in common with modern facilities, especially in Europe, and are totally unhygienic, unwholesome environments. The intolerable conditions of detention centers have brought the refugees to the verge of insanity. Those who have been released from them have reported that they had been not only languishing in unhealthy, squalid and deadly dull conditions but also from time to time severely assaulted by the police.

Why should, especially in a European country, the escapees from such hells as Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan be driven to sewing their lips in a battle to defend just their natural right to life?! The refugees in Greece are rotting away in constant fear of not having any stay permit, job, housing, health services, and so on. There is no responsible office or authority to deal with their plight or protest and simply ask them, ‘what are the problems that have driven you to this protest sit-in for over 50 days?’

It should be emphasized that during 22 years of its existence the IFIR has relentlessly defended the refugees from a progressive perspective as humans sans phrase, i.e., independent of their faith, political affiliation, race, ethnicity and gender. By the same token it has never encouraged such forms of protest as hunger strike or lip-sewing. However, it is the Greek government and the inhuman atmosphere it has created for the refugees that have forced those innocent human beings into an unjust, baleful death-or-freedom struggle.

In view of the above the IFIR demands that:

1- the process of reviewing the applications of all the asylum seekers in Greece begin immediately;

2- the Greek government provide health care to the striking refugees so that they can regain their heath and normal life process;

3- the Greek government and police forces immediately cease the practice of periodic assault of the asylum seekers, their irregular, protracted detentions, and deporting the Iranian refugees back to Iran;

4- as Greece is a member of EU as well as a refugee-accepting country, the asylum seekers in that country too must be cared for financially and medically; be granted work permit; be provided with housing; enjoy the right to legal counsel and protection;

5- while the Greek government refuses to observe the rights of refugees and asylum seekers in that country, the rest of EU member states not deport to Greece those who enter their countries via Greece. Further, in view of the IFIR the dispatching of Frontex guards to Greece’s northern border with Turkey is aligned with the very Greek government’s current inhuman refugee policies as a result of which many an asylum seeker will suffer severely, as well as the condition of refugees in Turkey will worsen significantly;

6- The IFIR calls on the EU states to exclude Greece - for its appalling maltreatment of refugees and asylum seekers - from Dublin II agreement of 2003 and grant the asylum seekers who enter other EU countries through Greece the permission to have their cases reviewed in those same countries without the fear of being deported to Greece.

International Federation of Iranian Refugees
October 29, 2010

A response to the Islamic Republic of Iran’s deceptions regarding Sakineh’s impending execution

PR No. 88
4 November 2010

An immediate and worldwide public outcry followed an urgent press release by the International Committees against Stoning and Execution giving notice of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani’s imminent execution. Shortly thereafter more than half a million people sent letters of protest, there were two million tweets on Sakineh, and rallies and events were held in a number of cities.

The International Committees against Stoning and Execution issued the press release after receiving credible information attesting to the plan to execute her on 3 November. Reliable sources within Iran confirmed having seen the actual execution order sent from Tehran to Tabriz prison’s office of sentence implementation and also seen Sakineh’s name on a blacklist of those to be imminently executed.

The Islamic Republic of Iran often executes people without any public warning or notice and even without informing lawyers and family members in order to avoid local and international condemnation. According to the International Campaign for Human Rights, at least 23 people have been executed these past few days alone without any official announcement.
Nonetheless the regime persists in concealing the real danger Ms Ashtiani’s life is in. Its Foreign Minister, Manouchehr Mottaki, told his French counterpart Bernard Kouchner that ‘the final verdict in the Sakineh Ashtiani case has not been announced by the Iranian judiciary.’ Malek Ajdar Sharifi, the head of the justice department in East Azarbaijan province, where Ms Ashtiani is imprisoned, also said that her case was under judicial review and she was in ‘perfect health.’

In the Islamic Republic of Iran, a ‘judicial review’ often effectively means that the regime is waiting for the opportunity to carry out its executions. The regime has executed many people whilst their cases were ‘under review.’ One well known case was that of juvenile ‘offender’ Delara Darabi who was executed in 2009 during a two month reprieve.

Whilst Sakineh has been held incommunicado since 11 August and her son, Sajjad Ghaderzadeh, and lawyer, Houtan Kian, been imprisoned and tortured since 10 October, the International Committees against Stoning and Execution will continue to act as their voice and their defence. And we will continue to raise the alarm when necessary until Ms Ashtiani’s stoning and execution orders are rescinded and she, her son and lawyer are unconditionally and immediately released.

International Committee against Execution
International Committee against Stoning

Toronto protest in support of Sakineh Ashtiani

At today's protest in Toronto activists collected hundreds of signatures against the imminent execution of Sakineh Ashtiani.

Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani still faces execution Global protests must continue

PR No. 86

Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani still faces execution Global protests must continue
3 November 2010

According to reports received today, global protests have managed to prevent the execution of Iran stoning case Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani as of now. However the threat of imminent execution remains.


A global public outcry immediately followed news of her impending execution on 3 November, which was reported on by all major media outlets. Tens of interviews took place with Mina Ahadi, Spokesperson of the International Committees against Stoning and Execution, Iran Solidarity Spokesperson Maryam Namazie, and other campaigners. Millions took immediate action worldwide by sending letters of protest to the Islamic Republic of Iran and other governments calling for immediate action. A number of governments, including the French, Italian, Swedish, and US and the European Parliament and European Union responded at once and demanded that her execution be stopped. There were a number of demonstrations on 2 November, including in Berlin, Brussels, London, Paris, Rome and Washington, DC.


Once again, the Islamic Republic of Iran clearly saw the widespread global reaction to its decision to execute Ms Ashtiani and did not go ahead with her execution. Ms Ashtiani’s execution, however, is still imminent. This is clear from the Islamic Republic of Iran’s response to protesting governments. The Committees have received reports that the highest court has sent the order for her execution to Tabriz prison; she could therefore be executed at any time.


The International Committees against Stoning and Execution salute protesting people worldwide that called for an end to Ms Ashtiani’s execution. It is as a result of public outcry that Ms Ashtiani is still alive today. We ask that people continue their protests, exerting pressure on governments and the Islamic Republic of Iran and highlighting her situation until her execution is officially rescinded and she is released along with her son, Sajjad, her lawyer, Houtan Kian, and the two German journalists arrested on 10 October 2010.


International Committee against Execution http://notonemoreexecution.org
International Committee against Stoning http://stopstonningnow.com
Email: minaahadi@aol.com Tel: 0049 (0) 1775692413

Toronto protest today 3 November

Protest in Toronto to save Sakineh Ashtiani

November,3

At Yong and Dundas ST.

From:11AM to 1:00PM

For info call Yadi on 416 726 9321

Pictures from London protest

Here are some pictures of the London protest tonight

Successful protest in front of European Parliament tonight

Successful protest in Brussels tonight in support of Sakineh Ashtiani

The protest in front of the European Parliament in Brussels at 6pm tonight was organised by Anne-Marie Lizin (Honorary Speaker of the Belgian Senate) and Viviane Teitelbaum (Chair of Women’s Council of Belgium) and was attended by representatives of the Green Party (Belgium), the Christian Democratic Party (Belgium), the philosopher Daniel Schiffer, Maryam Namazie, spokesperson of Iran Solidarity and other representatives.

A statement by Catherine Ashton, spokesperson of the EU High Representative, was read at the protest, as well as a statement by the Vice President of the European Parliament Isabelle Durant.

Catherine Ashton’s statement follows:

Statement by the spokesperson of EU High Representative Catherine Ashton on possible execution of Sakineh Mohammadi-Ashtiani

"Catherine Ashton is deeply concerned by reports that the execution of Ms Sakineh Mohammadi-Ashtiani may be imminent. She demands that Iran halts the execution and convert her sentence.

Ms Mohammadi-Ashtiani has been at risk of execution by stoning for adultery, a particularly cruel method of execution which amounts to unacceptable torture. The EU joined many other countries and organisations in condemning this sentence as a clear violation of Iran's international obligations under the International Covenant for Civil and Political Rights.

While the Iranian authorities have given assurances that Ms Ashtiani would not be killed by stoning, she has since faced charges for alleged complicity in the murder of her husband and may be executed by hanging. Neither sentence is acceptable.

Catherine Ashton is also concerned that Ms Ashtiani was not given a fair trial, not least in view of the detention of her lawyer, Mr Javid Houtan Kian, (and her son who has campaigned for her release).

Under these circumstances, Catherine Ashton reiterates her call on Iran to halt Ms Ashtiani's execution and to convert her sentence.

Catherine Ashton reaffirms the EU's opposition to the death penalty under all circumstances and calls on Iran to consider a moratorium on executions pending the abolition of the death penalty in accordance with UN General Assembly resolutions 62/149 and 63/168.

She also reminds Iran of its acceptance, during its Universal Periodic Review at the UN Human Rights Council, to respect at least the minimum standards and the provisions of ICCPR and CRC concerning the death penalty, for as long as it is maintained."

Iran Solidarity on CBC

Watch Bahram Soroush from Iran Solidarity in an interview with CBC News on Sakineh Ashtiani's imminent execution.

Protest in Deutschland

Kundgebung/Demo gegen die Tötung von Sakineh Ashtiani

heute, 19:00 Uhr in Berlin, Brandenburger Tor

El Pais report

Report on protests in Paris and Brussels in Spanish newspaper El Pais.

Protest at 6pm in Brussels tonight

There is a protest tonight at 6pm in Brussels in front of the European Parliament, Rue Belliard. Maryam Namazie of Iran Solidarity will be there. The protest has been called by the following organisations

CONSEIL DES FEMMES FRANCOPHONES DE BELGIQUE
la Ligue du droit international des femmes
HOCRINT
Synergie Wallonie pour l’Egalité entre les Femmes et les Hommes
asbl

Successful protest and press conference in Paris today

In protest at the planned execution of Sakineh Ashtiani several women and human rights organizations together with the International Committee against Stoning and Iran Solidarity organized a successful protest in front of the Islamic regime of Iran’s embassy in Paris today. The protest started at 2pm with speeches by representatives of the organizations. The press conference was attended by a huge number of national and international media. Maryam Namazie, spokesperson of Iran Solidarity attended the rally and press conference in Paris. Tonight she will be at a protest at 6 pm in front of the European parliament in Brussels.

The Paris protest was organised by:

Femmes Solidaires

International Committee against Stoning

Iran Solidarity

La Ligue du Droit International des Femmes

Mouvement Pour la Paix et Contre le Terrorisme

Ni putes ni soumises

COMMUNIQUE DE PRESSE URGENT! Bruxelles

(In French)

Le comité international contre la lapidation et le comité international contre les exécutions viennent d’obtenir l’information selon laquelle Sakineh Ashtiani serait exécutée par lapidation demain, le 3 novembre.

Agissons maintenant ! Rendez-vous devant le Parlement Européen aujourd’hui à 18h... pour recevoir une délégation d’Angleterre de « One law for All » et exprimons ensemble notre indignation. Agissons ensemble pour sauver Sakineh Ashtiani ! Rendez-vous à 18h devant le Parlement Européen pour une action symbolique ! Adresse précise : devant le Parlement Européen, côté rue Belliard, sur les marches.

Pour le CONSEIL DES FEMMES FRANCOPHONES DE BELGIQUE, le CFFB Viviane Teitelbaum, présidentePour la Ligue du droit international des femmes, LDIF et HOCRINT, Anne-Marie Lizin, présidentePour Synergie Wallonie pour l’Egalité entre les Femmes et les Hommes asbl, Reine Marcelis, Présidente

Protest tonight in London UK 8pm

There is a protest tonight at 8pm on Trafalgar Square in London UK against the planned execution of Sakineh Ashtiani. Please join if you can!

For more info
email: iransolidarityuk@gmail.com
or call Bahram on 07852338334

Keep it up! More contact details to send your protests to

Here are more contact details to send your letters and protests to.

Please ask them to:

-To intervene and put diplomatic pressure on the Islamic regime to prevent the execution of Sakineh Ashtiani
-Demand the release of Sakineh Ashtiani, her son Sajjad, her lawyer Houtan Kian and the two German journalists.

Ask the British embassy in Tehran to intervene in the imminent execution of Sakineh Ashtiani

phone: (98) (21) 6405 2000
fax: (98) (21) 6405 2289
Ambassador: Mr Simon Gass


Ask the UK foreign office in London to put diplomatic pressure on the Islamic regime of Iran

phone: 020 7008 1500
online contact form, click here


To contact the US State Department, go here


Turkish consulate in Tabriz, Iran (Sakineh sits in prison in Tabriz)
email: tebriz.bk@mfa.gov.tr

phone is 98(411)3001070

March with us to save Sakineh from Paris to Brussels on 2 November

ACT NOW

PLEASE NOTE: WE WILL BE GATHERING AT THE EMBASSY OF THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN IN PARIS AT 2PM (4 Avenue d'Iéna 75116 Paris) AND MARCHING TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT IN BRUSSELS. JOIN US. WE MUST SAVE SAKINEH’S LIFE AND SECURE HER FREEDOM AND THAT OF HER SON, LAWYER AND THE TWO GERMAN JOURNALISTS. AND WE MUST END STONING NOW!

According to news received by the International Committee against Stoning and International Committee against Execution on 1 November 2010, the authorities in Tehran have given the go ahead to Tabriz prison for the execution of Iran stoning case Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani. It has been reported that she is to be executed this Wednesday 3 November.

We had previously reported that the casefile regarding the murder case of Ms Ashtiani’s husband had been seized from her lawyer’s office, Houtan Kian, and found missing from the prosecutor’s Oskoo branch office so as to stitch Ms Ashtiani up with trumped up murder charges. [Another man has already served a prison sentence and is now free for her husband’s murder.] Ms Ashtiani’s son, Sajjad Ghaderzadeh, and her lawyer, Houtan Kian, have warned of the regime’s plan to do so on many occasions. With the arrest of Ms Ashtiani’s son and lawyer on 10 October and her not having had any visitation rights since 11 August and after fabricating a new case against her, the “Human Rights Commission” of the regime has announced that: ‘according to the existing evidence, her guilt has been confirmed.’ In fact, the regime has created a new scenario in order to expedite her execution.

In other news, Sajjad Ghaderzadeh and Houtan Kian have been severely tortured in order to obtain confessions against Sakineh and themselves since their arrests on 10 October along with two German journalists. The initial interrogations by the Ministry of Intelligence have now been completed and the casefile sent to the National Prosecutor General and Judiciary Spokesperson, Mohsen-Ejehi, in Tehran rather than being handled in Tabriz. Their families are concerned for their wellbeing. When attempting to secure lawyers for the two, authorities have said that the two men did not need legal representation.

Sajjad and Houtan Kian’s only ‘crime’ has been to defend Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani and proclaim her innocence with facts and evidence. That their contact with Mina Ahadi is considered a crime is absurd given that Ahadi has been contacted by death row prisoners and their families and lawyers for many years now, including directly from prison. This is because of her many years of work against stoning and executions.

The International Committees against Stoning and Execution call on international bodies and the people of the world to come out in full force against the state-sponsored murder of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani. Ms Ashtiani, Sajjad Ghaderzadeh, Houtan Kian and the two German journalists must be immediately and unconditionally released.

ACT NOW!

1. Contact government officials, MPs, MEPs, and the UN asking them to intervene urgently. Governments must immediately summon the Islamic Republic of Iran’s ambassadors and demand that Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani’s execution be stopped and that she along with her son, Sajjad Ghaderzadeh, and lawyer, Houtan Kian, and the two German journalists be immediately released.

2. Send letters of condemnation to the Islamic regime of Iran right away:

Head of the Judiciary
Sadeqh Larijani
Howzeh Riyasat-e Qoveh Qazaiyeh (Office of the Head of the Judiciary)
Pasteur St., Vali Asr Ave., south of Serah-e Jomhouri
Tehran 1316814737, Iran
Email: info@dadiran.ir or via website: http://www.dadiran.ir/tabid/75/Default.aspx
First starred box: your given name; second starred box: your family name; third: your email address

Head of the Judiciary in East Azerbaijan Province
Malek-Ashtar Sharifi
Office of the Head of the Judiciary in Tabriz
East Azerbaijan, Iran

Ali Khamenei
The Office of the Supreme Leader
Islamic Republic Street - Shahid Keshvar Doust Street
Tehran, Iran
Email: via website: http://www.leader.ir/langs/en/index.php?p=letter (English)
http://www.leader.ir/langs/fa/index.php?p=letter (Persian)

Secretary General, High Council for Human Rights
Mohammad Javad Larijani
Howzeh Riassat-e Ghoveh Ghazaiyeh
Pasteur St, Vali Asr Ave., south of Serah-e Jomhuri
Tehran 1316814737, Iran
Fax: +98 21 3390 4986
Email: bia.judi@yahoo.com

3. Please urgently donate to the Save Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani campaign by making your cheque payable to ‘Count Me In – Iran’ and sending it to BM Box 6754, London WC1N 3XX, UK. You can also pay via Paypal (http://countmein-iran.com/donate.html).

For more information, contact:

Mina Ahadi, International Committee against Execution and International Committee against Stoning: minaahadi@aol.com; Tel: +49 (0) 1775692413, http://stopstonningnow.com, http://notonemoreexecution.org

Maryam Namazie, Iran Solidarity, iransolidaritynow@gmail.com, +44 7719166731, www.iransolidarity.org.uk, iransolidarity.blogspot.com

ACT NOW: Iran stoning case, Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani to be executed on 3 November

According to news received by the International Committee against Stoning and International Committee against Execution on 1 November 2010, the authorities in Tehran have given the go ahead to Tabriz prison for the execution of Iran stoning case Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani. It has been reported that she is to be executed this Wednesday 3 November.

We had previously reported that the casefile regarding the murder case of Ms Ashtiani’s husband had been seized from her lawyer’s office, Houtan Kian, and found missing from the prosecutor’s Oskoo branch office so as to stitch Ms Ashtiani up with trumped up murder charges. [Another man has already served a prison sentence and is now free for her husband’s murder.] Ms Ashtiani’s son, Sajjad Ghaderzadeh, and her lawyer, Houtan Kian, have warned of the regime’s plan to do so on many occasions. With the arrest of Ms Ashtiani’s son and lawyer on 10 October and her not having had any visitation rights since 11 August and after fabricating a new case against her, the “Human Rights Commission” of the regime has announced that: ‘according to the existing evidence, her guilt has been confirmed.’ In fact, the regime has created a new scenario in order to expedite her execution.

In other news, Sajjad Ghaderzadeh and Houtan Kian have been severely tortured in order to obtain confessions against Sakineh and themselves since their arrests on 10 October along with two German journalists. The initial interrogations by the Ministry of Intelligence have now been completed and the casefile sent to the National Prosecutor General and Judiciary Spokesperson, Mohsen-Ejehi, in Tehran rather than being handled in Tabriz. Their families are concerned for their wellbeing. When attempting to secure lawyers for the two, authorities have said that the two men did not need legal representation.

Sajjad and Houtan Kian’s only ‘crime’ has been to defend Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani and proclaim her innocence with facts and evidence. That their contact with Mina Ahadi is considered a crime is absurd given that Ahadi has been contacted by death row prisoners and their families and lawyers for many years now, including directly from prison. This is because of her many years of work against stoning and executions.

The International Committees against Stoning and Execution call on international bodies and the people of the world to come out in full force against the state-sponsored murder of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani. Ms Ashtiani, Sajjad Ghaderzadeh, Houtan Kian and the two German journalists must be immediately and unconditionally released.

ACT NOW!

1. Contact government officials, MPs, MEPs, and the UN asking them to intervene urgently. Governments must immediately summon the Islamic Republic of Iran’s ambassadors and demand that Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani’s execution be stopped and that she along with her son, Sajjad Ghaderzadeh, and lawyer, Houtan Kian, and the two German journalists be immediately released.

2. Send letters of condemnation to the Islamic regime of Iran right away:

Head of the Judiciary
Sadeqh Larijani
Howzeh Riyasat-e Qoveh Qazaiyeh (Office of the Head of the Judiciary)
Pasteur St., Vali Asr Ave., south of Serah-e Jomhouri
Tehran 1316814737, Iran
Email: info@dadiran.ir or via website: http://www.dadiran.ir/tabid/75/Default.aspx
First starred box: your given name; second starred box: your family name; third: your email address

Head of the Judiciary in East Azerbaijan Province
Malek-Ashtar Sharifi
Office of the Head of the Judiciary in Tabriz
East Azerbaijan, Iran

Ali Khamenei
The Office of the Supreme Leader
Islamic Republic Street - Shahid Keshvar Doust Street
Tehran, Iran
Email: via website: http://www.leader.ir/langs/en/index.php?p=letter (English)
http://www.leader.ir/langs/fa/index.php?p=letter (Persian)

Secretary General, High Council for Human Rights
Mohammad Javad Larijani
Howzeh Riassat-e Ghoveh Ghazaiyeh
Pasteur St, Vali Asr Ave., south of Serah-e Jomhuri
Tehran 1316814737, Iran
Fax: +98 21 3390 4986
Email: bia.judi@yahoo.com

For more information, contact:

Mina Ahadi, International Committee against Execution and International Committee against Stoning: minaahadi@aol.com; Tel: +49 (0) 1775692413, http://stopstonningnow.com, http://notonemoreexecution.org

Maryam Namazie, Iran Solidarity, iransolidaritynow@gmail.com, +44 7719166731, www.iransolidarity.org.uk, iransolidarity.blogspot.com