Iran stoning woman to sue German reporters

An Iranian woman sentenced to death for adultery has said that she plans to sue two jailed German journalists who interviewed her son.
 
Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, whose case has caused international outrage, said the two reporters should not be released from detention by the Iranian authorities.
 
More than 100 German business and political leaders, including many cabinet ministers, have published a 15-page appeal in the Bild am Sonntag tabloid newspaper, which employed the two imprisoned journalists.
 
Her son Sajjad Ghaderzadeh is accused of illegally meeting the two reporters, who have been detained for working on visitor’s visas and whose names have not been disclosed.
 
“I have a complaint against the two Germans who have embarrassed me, why did they come here? Why did they come here posing as journalists?” Ashtiani told state television.
 
Human rights campaigners said she made the comments under duress.
 
“In my opinion Ms Ashtiani is under enormous pressure (from the authorities) and she made this statement because she believes she is set to be released.” said Mini Ahadi, a member of the International Committee Against Stoning.
 
Ms Ashtiani was sentenced to be stoned to death following her imprisonment in 2006 after she was found guilty of helping her lover to kill her husband.
 
A sentence of hanging for involvement in the murder was commuted to life last year. She could, however, still be stoned for adultery.
 
Last month she confessed to involvement in the killing during a television interview and even participated in a televised re-enactment of the crime.
 
 

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