Women’s
Forum Against Fundamentalism in Iran
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PRESS RELEASE Public Statement
CONTACT:
press@wfafi.org
July 21, 2008
Nine People Convicted to Death by Stoning in Iran
BOSTON, MA- The clerical regime in Iran has convicted 9 people (eight women and one man) to the brutal and inhumane sentence of death by stoning. An Iranian rights group published the names of those who are currently at risk of being stoned to death as follows:
- Kobra Najar, 43, mother of four, who has been jailed since 1996 in Tabriz. She
has also been found guilty of serving as accomplice in her husband's murder who
forced her into prostitution for 12 years.
- Iran E., 33, mother of one, jailed since 2003 in Ahvaz, in western Iran. She
was attacked by her husband who had caught her talking to her lover who killed
the man to protect Iran.
- Shamameh Ghorbani, 34, mother of two, jailed since 2005 in Orumiyeh.
- Sisters Zohreh, 27, and Azar Kabiri, 28, each mother of one, were arrested in
February 2007 after the husband of one of them presented a film showing them
with six men.
-
Ashraf Kalhori, 37, mother of four, jailed in Tehran's Evin prison for six
years. She is also accused of collaborating in her husband's murder.
- Kheyrieh V., 38, mother of four, jailed in Ahvaz. She has also been found
guilty of helping her lover in her husband's murder. She has denied her role in
the murder but confessed to an illegitimate relationship, the group said.
- Leila Q., 34, mother of three, jailed for four years in Evin prison. She is
accused of adultery and being an accomplice in her husband's murder.
- Abdullah Farivar, 50, father of two, a music teacher sentenced to death for an
illegitimate relationship with a student in the city of Sari in northern Iran.
The group said the convicts were mostly from illiterate and under-privileged
backgrounds who were condemned to death in the absence of a reasonable legal
defense. The gross violations of human rights by Tehran's fundamentalist regime
and the brutal treatment of their citizens must be denounced by the
international community. It is extremely appalling for a government to subject
its citizens to these types of horrific and degrading conduct. The world
community has a moral responsibility to stand up to this immoral behavior by the
Iranian mullahs.
The Women's Forum Against Fundamentalism in Iran (WFAFI) calls upon the western
governments, human rights organizations and the United Nations to hold Tehran
responsible for its gross violations of human rights. The leaders of the Islamic
Fundamentalist regime must be brought to justice for their shameful actions. The
world must hold every single one of these leaders accountable for systematic and
brutal suppression of Iranian people. WFAFI also calls for an end to the
degrading punishment of stoning by the Iranian regime.
We believe that the policy of engagement and appeasement has only emboldened the
mullahs to continue with their violent suppression. The lack of decisive
position by West is interpreted by Tehran as the green light to further violate
the rights of its citizens. Instead, the international community must support
Iranian people and their aspirations for democratic change in their country.
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