Epress.am News from Armenia
At 5 pm yesterday, a group of demonstrators gathered in front of the Islamic Republic of Iran Embassy in Armenia to protest Iran’s decision to execute Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, who was convicted with adultery, following her husband’s death.
During the protest, security officers didn’t allow demonstrators to place posters and the stones (representing Iran’s notorious punishment of death by stoning) in front of the embassy’s doors.
Recall that an announcement on the social networking site Facebook had called on supporters to protest in front of Iranian embassies around the world and to place red-painted stones in front of the building as a symbolic gesture.
Speaking to Epress.am, one of the demonstrators in front of the Iranian Embassy in Armenia yesterday said that they weren’t being allowed to place posters (or placards) and stones near the embassy door.
“They invited me to come into the embassy; there I passed on our written complaint; at that time, the ambassador came, became informed as to what was going on and in a calm tone said, there’s nothing unusual [here], many women are in prison,” said demonstrator Lusine Vayachyan.
Recall that the 43-year-old, who has been in prison in Tabriz since 2006, had already been punished with flogging for an “illicit relationship” outside marriage when another court tried her for adultery. Earlier this year, authorities in Iran announced that Ashtiani would not be stoned to death; however, it was unclear whether the death sentence was lifted against her.
Under Iran’s strict interpretation of Islamic law, sex before marriage is punishable by 100 lashes, but married offenders are sentenced to death by stoning. The stones used must be large enough to cause the condemned pain, but not sufficient to kill immediately.
In May 2006, a criminal court in East Azerbaijan province found Ashtiani guilty of having had an “illicit relationship” with two men following the death of her husband, reports BBC News. She was given 99 lashes.