Press Release No 33

At today’s hearing regarding Ms Ashtiani’s case at Tehran’s High Court the chief of the 9th division, Davoudi, rejected a reopening of the trial and is instead considering Tabriz prosecutor Hossain Nobacht’s demand to execute Ms Ashtiani. Her case has now been transferred to the deputy prosecutor-general Saeed Mortazavi.

The High Court will confirm whether the execution of Ms Ashtiani can go ahead next week.

Sakine Ashtiani’s children and relatives are very concerned about this development. Hossain Nobacht had been speaking publicly about demanding Ms Ashtiani’s execution and waiting for confirmation from the Head of the Judiciary as long as ten days ago.

Mina Ahadi from ICAS says: ‘The Islamic regime has sent a political message.

Despite the many protests and international concern for Ms Ashtiani the Islamic regime continues their terror against people and especially women in Iran. Putting Ms Ashtiani’s future in the hands of Saeed Mortazavi is a very bad sign. They are preparing Ms Ashtiani’s execution. This is a very clear sign that ‘justice’ in Iran has nothing to do with being just but everything to do with being a political tool of oppression and self-preservation of the Islamic regime.’

A confirmation of the execution order for Ms Ashtiani can mean that she might be executed very soon. ICAS calls on all human rights organisations, governments and individuals worldwide to continue putting pressure on the Islamic regime of Iran until Ms Ashtiani is freed.

International Committee against Stoning
International Committee against Execution
4 August 2010

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1. Contact: Mina Ahadi, Email: minaahadi@aol.com, Tel: 0049 (0) 1775692413
http://notonemoreexecution.org http://stopstonningnow.com/wpress/

2.A note about Saeed Mortazavi, deputy prosecutor-general of Iran. He has been accused of the torture and death in custody of Iranian-Canadian photographer Zahra Kazemi by the Canadian government. In a report in Iran in 2010 he was named as the man responsible for abuse of dozens and death of three political prisoners at Kahrizak detention centre in 2009. He has been called “torturer of Tehran” by some observers.