Iranian human rights have raised concern over a judgement that sentenced nine people to death by stoning. It is feared that they may be executed at any time.
Eight women who were sentenced to death in different cases are charged with prostitution and adultery while the man, a teacher is convicted for having sex with his student. Iranian government rarely confirms such executions formally after a moratorium on stoning was ordered by Iran's judiciary chief Ayatollah Mohmoud Hashemi-Shahroudi in 2002.
Human rights activists say that the victims were convicted solely on judges' decisions and were not given a chance to defend them during the trial. Most of the women were illiterate to understand the charges against them. One woman, Shamame Qorbani, says that she was raped but that allegation was not investigated and she was charged with prostitution.
Human rights activist Shadi
Sadr said
These women mostly come from the illiterate masses and did not have money or access to a lawyer. Many did not understand Farsi and, of course, all the interrogations were in Farsi. In all of the cases, there has been violence against them, or they have been forced into marriages, or their divorce applications have been refused. In some cases, they couldn't apply for a divorce due to family pressures.
According to Iranian Islamic law, men who are charged with adultery will be buried up to their waists and women will be buried up to their chest before stoning them to death. Also the stones to be pelted should not be large so that the victim will not be killed immediately.
Iranian activists fear more such incidents after religious hardliners tightened their grip on power. Hardliners are are trying to bring legislations for more draconian laws like bodily punishments such as blinding and amputation.
Eight women, one man sentenced to death by stoning in Iran
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