Sunday, December 25, 2011 – A senior Iranian Judiciary official on Sunday said, the execution of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani is pending with the chief of the state judiciary.

Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani was sentenced to death by stonning but the execution was halted due to enormous international condemnation and protests.

Malik Ashdar Sharifi chief of the judiciary for eastern Azerbhaijan province on Sunday said, we are waiting to receive instructions to carry out the execution, the method of the execution either by hanging or stonning to death will be instructed by chief of the state judiciary.

Sakineh Mohammad Ashtiani is accused of being involved in assassination of her husband in 2006, she was sentenced to jail for at least ten years in connection to the murder charges and was sentenced to death by stonning in connection to adultery charges.

The execution of the Sakineh Mohammad Ashtiani by stonning to death was suspended by the Iranian Judiciary officials following international pressures.

Mr. Sharifi while speaking among the university students in Azerbhaijan state University said, the execution issue of Sakineh Mohammad Ashtani was forwarded to chief of the state judiciary at that time due to lack of facilities to carry out the execution by stonning to death.

Mr. Sharifi further added, the execution method was then changed and proposed to be hanged to death by the new state judiciary chief Sadi Larijani.

He also said, the state judiciary chief has instructed to temporarily suspend the execution of Sakineh Mohammad Ashtiani in order to study and elect exact jurisprudence to implement the execution.

Sakineh Mohammad Ashtiani was sentenced to death by stonning for having illecit relations with two men who were believed behind the assassination of Sakineh’s husband.

The Iranian supreme court issued the execution order for sakineh Mohammad Ashtiani to be stonned to death on 27 May 2007.

Author


  • Ahmad Shah Ghani Zada is the former Senior Editor of Khaama Press Agency who managed and overlooked the English edition. He is occasionally contributing stories to the agency.