Iran Human Rights, November 2: According to unconfirmed reports Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, the 43 years old woman sentenced to death by stoning, could be at imminent danger of execution.

Iranian authorities have repeated their murder allegations against Sakineh Ashtiani during the past weeks. According to the daily newspaper Quds, Hassan Ghashghavi and Iranian foreign ministry official, said at a meeting that "Mrs. Sakineh Ashtiani is convicted of adultry and murder of her husband, and the family of the offended have requested (Qesas) retribution". He added:"Iran defends the victim and his family, while the West defends the offender".

On the other hand the Iranian authorities confirmed for the first time that Sakineh Ashtiani’s lawyer (Javid Houtan Kian) is in detention. Spokesman of the Judiciary and Iran’s chief prosecutor Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, said at a press conference yesterday that "the lawyer had three ID cards and his case is in relation with some counter-revolutionary exile groups and is under consideration".

Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, the spokesperson of Iran Human Rights expressed his concern about Mrs. Ashtiani’s situation and said:"The allegations by the Iranian authorities regarding Mr. Ashtiani’s murder conviction, and especially their claims about the family of the offended demanding retribution, are fabricated by the regime in order to make her execution more acceptable for the world community". He added:" The offended’s family are also Sakineh’s children, and they started the campaign to save their mother’s life, so how could they demand her execution?". He continued:"The signals sent by the Iranian authorities might indicate that Mrs. Ashtiani is at imminent danger of execution".

Regarding the arrest of Mrs. Ashtiani’s lawyer and son, Amiry-Moghaddam said:" There are no news about Mrs. Ashtiani’s son Sajjad, and her lawyer Javid Houtan Kian. Iranain authorities have for the first time confirmed that the lawyer is under detention, but we don’t know where and under what conditions they are right now".

Regarding the international attention around Mrs. Ashtiani’s case, Amiry-Moghaddam said: "It is thanks to the international pressure that Sakineh Ashtiani wasn’t stoned to death last summer, but unfortunately the attention around her case was temporary and we had earlier warned that once the attention is gone she will be at imminent danger of execution". "Where are all the leaders and the personalitis who spoke about Sakineh Ashtiani few months ago?" He asked.

"We ask the world community, the governments and the civil socity to give urgent attention to her case now. She is at imminent danger of execution and tomorrow could be too late" Amiry-Moghaddam ended.