Canada condemns Iran for planning Iranian woman’s execution

TEHRAN - The Canadian government is “deeply troubled” by reports that Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, the Iranian woman convicted of adultery and sentenced to death by stoning could be executed as early as Wednesday, and added that that her planned execution is “completely out of line.”

The Globe and Mail quoted Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon as saying in the House of Commons that: “Our government is deeply troubled by reports that Iran may be moving forward with its plans to execute this woman,”

“The appalling treatment of her is completely out of line with international standards and the rule of law,” he added.

On Tuesday, the White House had urged Iran to halt the execution, saying that the case demonstrated the regime’s “fundamental disregard for human rights.”

Marina Nemat, an Iranian-Canadian author who was tortured in Iran and has campaigned with Indigo Books and Music CEO Heather Reisman to save Ashtiani, said that the execution may or may not be imminent as little is clear when dealing with Iran, but urged Canadian government to speak out more forcefully in condemnation of Iran’s human-rights abuses.

“I’m keeping my hopes up because the question is what the Iranian regime would gain from killing this woman, the world would be outraged. Canada used to be so famous worldwide when it came to human-rights issues. I’m not saying we should attack Iran. But release statements. At least condemn it. Be vocal about it. And nothing is coming out of the Prime Minister’s office,” she added.

Ashtiani was originally convicted in May 2006 after being found guilty of having had an “illicit relationship” with two men following the death of her husband and reportedly received 99 lashes in front of her son.

Later that year, as a result of information that surfaced during the trial of a man accused of murdering her husband, her adultery case was re-opened. Despite retracting a confession she said she had made under duress in August, Ashtiani was convicted of adultery and sentenced to death by stoning.

The Iranian government also claims she had a hand in the murder of her husband. (ANI)