In my diary,
Women face death by stoning in Iran I reported a story from Amnesty International about two women who were due to be stoned to death for "morality offences". Both were to be buried breast high in the ground, and the stones were to be large enough to damage but not so large as to cause instant death. One has a mental age of eight and has been sexually abused all her life.
There is some good news below the fold:
Both women are no longer in imminent danger. However Amnesty is continuing to monitor both cases closely, and is asking for further appeals on hehalf of both women in the form of letters or emails. Details are given in Amnesty's website
here. Please help if you possibly can. These appeals do work as this limited good news shows.
Here is the news about Leyla M, the woman with Learning Difficulties:
Leyla Mafi (formerly known as 'Leyla M'), who was sentenced to death for "morality-related" offences arising from her being forced into prostitution as a child, is no longer in imminent danger of execution. The Iranian authorities are reviewing her case, in an attempt to investigate press reports that Leyla Mafi has a mental age of eight.
On 26 December the Foreign Ministry announced at a news conference that the issue of Leyla Mafi's mental capacity had been referred to the relevant bodies for investigation. No further details about the review, or the bodies conducting it, are known
And here is the update on Hajieh Esmailvand:
Amnesty International has learnt that Hajieh Esmailvand, at risk of execution after her death sentence for adultery was upheld by the Supreme Court in November, has been granted a stay of execution. The judiciary is reportedly reconsidering the method of execution, and it is hoped they will reconsider the whole sentence. Amnesty believes an international campaign and letter-writing has helped, but it is still a critical time to send more appeals
There is no news of Hajieh's partner who is 17 and due to be hanged.