A woman convicted of murder and adultery and sentenced to die by stoning confesses to her part in the plot to kill her husband on an Iranian television program aired Friday night.

But the family of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani has steadfastly denied that she played any role in her husband's death -- and a human rights organization that is trying to help Ashtiani called the program "a theatrical melodrama."

"There was a complete disregard for due process, bringing her out and making her a part of this theatrical melodrama is an attempt to try to convince the international public opinion that she is guilty," said Hadi Ghaemi, director of International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran.

Iran has drawn sharp criticism from the international community after Ashtiani's 2010 sentence to death by stoning. Officials ranging from Pope Benedict XVI to the European Union's top foreign policy official, Catherine Ashton, urged Iran not to carry out the sentence.

"Since the international outcry, the Iranian government is tap-dancing, trying to justify executing her," said Ghaemi.

Press TV, Iran's government-backed English language station, aired the half-hour special on "Iran Today." The program included interviews with -- among others -- Ashtiani and her son.

The program brought Ashtiani back to her home in Osku "to produce a visual account" of the death of her husband "at the crime scene."

"This is highly unusual because according to Iranian authorities this is a woman who is in prison convicted of adultery and murder and now she has apparently been plucked out of her jail cell and featured in this documentary," said CNN's Reza Sayah

"This was a program designed to promote the government's position," said Sayah.

This is not the first time Ashtiani has been brought out in front of cameras for an alleged confession.

The program also condemns the public campaign to free her.

"It was a very disturbing piece, it was the Iranian government turning a judicial case into a public relations case," said Ghaemi.

Press TV's release of still photographs of Ashtiani and her son from the interview, which took place on Sunday, fueled some speculation that they had been released, but there was no evidence or confirmation to support that conjecture.

Ashtiani was convicted of adultery in 2006. She also received a 10 year prison sentence for her alleged cooperation in the plot to kill her husband.

"The key point here is not just about Ashtiani, but about abolishing stoning in Iran. That is what the Iranian government is trying to diverge attention from. They don't want to talk about abolishing stoning or Iran's human rights record," said Ghaemi.

Two German journalists who interviewed Ashtiani were arrested in October and charged with espionage. He son and lawyer also were arrested, but it was not clear on what charges.

Post Reply

Posted: at 11-12-2010 05:17 AM (13 years ago) | Newbie

Too Long

and might be senseless

make i run

Posted: at 11-12-2010 10:02 AM (13 years ago) | Gistmaniac

thanks for the news but of what use is this info. to my sense of humour?

Posted: at 11-12-2010 11:01 AM (13 years ago) | Newbie

passing

Posted: at 11-12-2010 11:11 AM (13 years ago) | Gistmaniac

buzeei, shey u dey fine sha??? y u dey post news here???

Posted: at 11-12-2010 12:08 PM (13 years ago) | Gistmaniac

running

Posted: at 11-12-2010 02:52 PM (13 years ago) | Upcoming

heheheheheheheheee..

Posted: at 13-12-2010 03:32 PM (13 years ago) | Hero

I don kawa for this matter...na encyclopadia you they post? :'( :'(

u make sense here

Posted: at 14-12-2010 12:59 AM (13 years ago) | Gistmaniac

I don kawa for this matter...na encyclopadia you they post? :'( :'(

u make sense here

i tire o how does he expect one to read this

Posted: at 14-12-2010 11:41 AM (13 years ago) | Upcoming

Somebody needs to be flogged

Posted: at 14-12-2010 01:38 PM (13 years ago) | Gistmaniac

let the flogging begin.

Posted: at 14-12-2010 02:33 PM (13 years ago) | Hero

buzeei, shey u dey fine sha??? y u dey post news here???

no mid am

Posted: at 14-12-2010 05:13 PM (13 years ago) | Gistmaniac

thanks for the news but of what use is this info. to my sense of humour?

CHECK ITS USELESS LENGTH

Posted: at 14-12-2010 05:24 PM (13 years ago) | Gistmaniac

passing.........

Posted: at 14-12-2010 08:46 PM (13 years ago) | Newbie

 where u dey pass go? .....

Posted: at 14-12-2010 10:13 PM (13 years ago) | Gistmaniac

Reply: