Hollywood Stars and Celebrities Sign Petition To Help Save Sakineh Ashtiani

Former Brazil President Fernando Henrique Cardoso, former Minister of Women’s Affairs of Iran Mahnaz Afkhami, actor Michael Douglas, New York mayor Michael Bloomberg and many other noted personalities signed the petition to save Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani. The good news is: you can sign too!

The 43-year-old Iranian woman Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani will not be stoned to death after an international campaign launched by her children. It is unclear whether the authorities have lifted the death sentence for alleged adultery against Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani or if she faces execution by another means.

Michael Douglas didn't hesitate to sign this petition!

Ashtiani’s story is one of savage human rights violations. The reaction has ranged from apathetic to appalled. From indifference to proactive. Yet even those who have shown the desire to get involved have been realistic as to what can be done. Maybe the apathy and indifference comes from the understanding that the world has come to terms with what they believe to be the Islamic way.

Stoning, hanging, lashes and death sentences handed out to women have become accepted, and that for Heather Reisman is unacceptable. Reisman has started a petition on www.freesakineh.org to stop Iran from proceeding with the controversial decision of stoning Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani. In 2006, Ashtiani was convicted in Iran of having “illicit relationships”, purely based on her husband’s accusation and with no real evidence. She denied the accusation and only after receiving 99 lashes, did she admit to the charges. Since then, the 43-year old has been in jail where she recanted the confession she made under the duress of the lashing.

Recently, Ashtiani was retried in court and was convicted of the crime a second time and sentenced to be stoned to death. Under media scrutiny and worldwide pressure, Iranian officials have said that the stoning charge will be dropped but the death sentence remains. However, other sources have confirmed that the stoning will commence as planned.

Reisman’s petition calls for the elimination of stoning as a practice in Iran, a country which is a signatory to the International Declaration of Human Rights and related Conventions. Stoning, a barbaric practice which involves burying a woman up to her shoulders in sand and pelting her to death with stones, starting from smaller to larger, violates any and all definitions of human rights.

Please sign this petition at http://freesakineh.org/

Ms Ashtiani says she was forced to confess to adultery during questioning. Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani's fate remains unclear....

The idea that Iran, with its outdated primitive legal and social practices, can even be considered as a member of the UN Human Rights Council shows how little the UN truly cares about the practices of its member countries. Past committee members such as Saudi Arabia, Syria and Zimbabwe have all been guilty of not adhering to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Reisman, a Canadian businesswoman and founder of the Canadian retail chain Indigo Books and Music Inc., has a stated goal of 1 million signatures. Her influence has already helped her receive signatures from former Brazil President Fernando Henrique Cardoso, former Minister of Women’s Affairs of Iran Mahnaz Afkhami, actor Michael Douglas, New York mayor Michael Bloomberg and many other noted personalities.

Recently, Tehran court has ruled that 25-year old Maryan Ghorbanzadeh, also convicted of adultery, will be executed by stoning despite being pregnant. Another woman, 19-year old Azhar Bakri, has been sentenced to stoning after being convicted of adultery. Bakri was jailed four years ago after her husband, whom she married at 14, accused her of having an extramarital affair.

While Ashtiani might be the highest profile victim in recent memory, the above stands as a reminder that this inhuman practice is happening more often than most realize. Ashtiani’s is not an isolated incident, and a petition like this can help remind governments, organizations and people that human rights is a concept that must be practiced and enforced by all.

Please sign this petition at http://freesakineh.org/

Posted by Blue Karuna on Jul 19th, 2010 and filed under Human Right Activism, Human Rights, People, Women Activism, death penalty. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.