Tehran, Dec 29 (ANI): Iran, which is already facing criticism for sentencing a woman to death by stoning, has failed to silence international outcry by instead pursuing an execution by hanging.
Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, 43, was convicted in 2006 of having an "illicit relationship" with two men after the murder of her husband the year before. She was then sentenced to 99 lashes and death by stoning.
The execution was delayed after protests across the globe, and Ashtiani has been detained in prison ever since.
On Sunday, the head judiciary, Malek Ajdar Sharifi said the prison does not have the "necessary facilities" to carry forth with the stoning and that they are considering hanging as an alternative.
He said that an investigation is being conducted to see if it is legally and religiously possible to execute Ashtiani by hanging and that once a determination is made, the sentence will be carried out.
The comments have reignited efforts to get Ashtiani freed, Fox News reports.
"Iran's most recent attempt to escape another international embarrassment by converting the sentence to death by hanging still results in Iran violating its obligations under international law," said Tiffany Barrans of The American Center for Law and Justice, a Washington-based civil rights watchdog.
"The regime's post hoc attempts to justify Ashtiani's death sentence by digging up old criminal charges should be seen as nothing less than an attempt to hide its flagrant disregard for human rights," Barrans added.
According to the report, theUS State Department has also showed concern over the ruling calling for Iran to "live up to its international commitments to prevent cruel and inhuman treatment."
"We remain deeply troubled by this case. We once again call on the Iranian government to conduct her case with the transparency and due process written in Iran's own constitution as well as in the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights, to which Iran is a signatory," it said. (ANI)
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