Amnesty protests stoning of Iran woman

TEHRAN, July 10 (UPI) -- Only the head of Iran's judiciary can prevent the stoning execution of a woman after her partner was stoned to death, according to Amnesty International.

The London-based advocacy group Tuesday issued an urgent appeal to stop the stoning execution of Mokarrameh Ebrahimi, whose partner Jafar Kiana was stoned to death in the village of Aghche-kand in the Qazvin province on Thursday. It said it was gravely concerned that Ebrahimi will suffer the same fate unless Iran's head of the judiciary, Ayatollah Shahroudi, intervenes immediately.

The group expressed its outrage at "this cruel, inhuman punishment," saying it had not expected for Kiana's execution to be carried out after the couple spent more than 11 years in prison on charges of committing adultery. "The couple remained under sentence of execution by stoning, but it was believed the risk was not imminent. However, Jafar Kiana's execution has triggered fears that Mokarrameh Ebrahimi's life is in imminent danger," AI said in a statement.

It added that the pair, who have two children living in prison with their mother, were due to be stoned to death on June 21 but it was suspended after a wave of domestic and international pressure on the Tehran government.

Execution by stoning is a punishment for adultery under Iranian law. "The stones used are specifically designed to increase the victim's suffering," the group said. "It has been reported that only a few members of the public participated in Jafar Kiana's stoning, which was carried out mostly by local governmental and judiciary officials."