Iranian 'stoning to death' woman may be executed by Wednesday, claim HR observers - India News and Travel Times Provides India-centric and other News and Features

Human rights observers have warned that Iran plans to execute Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, the Iranian woman who was earlier sentenced to death by stoning for alleged adultery charges. Fox News quoted Mina Ahadi of the International Committees Against Execution & Stoning, as saying that authorities in Tehran have given a green signal to prison officials in Tabriz to execute Ashtiani as early as Wednesday, but it is not clear yet by what method. Ahadi and her organization has reportedly appealed foreign governments to pressurise Iran to issue a stay of execution, as they believe that Western governments are now Ashtiani's greatest hope, possibly her only hope. They are also calling on the public to come out Tuesday and protest against the latest development in order to gather international attention and press for her release, as well as her son and lawyer, who are missing. Ashtiani, a mother of two, was originally convicted in May 2006 after being found guilty of having had an "illicit relationship" with two men following the death of her husband and reportedly received 99 lashes in front of her son. Later that year, as a result of information that surfaced during the trial of a man accused of murdering her husband, her adultery case was re-opened. Despite retracting a confession she said she had made under duress in August, Ashtiani was convicted of adultery and sentenced to death by stoning. The Iranian government also claims she had a hand in the murder of her husband.