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Vatican: We're Watching Iran's 'Brutal' Stoning Case

Ashtiani now sentenced to 99 lashes over photo

By Polly Davis Doig,  Newser Staff

Posted Sep 5, 2010 2:48 PM CDT
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(Newser) – Iran may think Carla Bruni's a prostitute, but the BBC reports that it also thinks it's going to give Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani—the woman Tehran already wants to put to death by stoning—99 lashes over a photo that may or may not depict her bareheaded. Sound like she needs a little divine intervention? The AP reports that the Vatican may wade into the fracas, with a spokesman today decrying stoning as a particularly "brutal" form of execution, which it's not a huge fan of to begin with.

The Rev. Federico Lombardi said that the Holy See "is following the case with attention and interest." Ashtiani's son says he has asked the pope to intervene, and "When the Holy See is asked to intervene in humanitarian issues with the authorities of other countries, it does so not in a public way, but through its own diplomatic channels," Lombardi said. Iran backtracked on Ashtiani's initial stoning sentence, but she may still face the gallows.

Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, a mother of two who is facing the punishment of stoning to death in Iran on charges of adultery.
Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, a mother of two who is facing the punishment of stoning to death in Iran on charges of adultery.   (AP Photo/Amnesty International, ho)
A demonstrator holds a portrait of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani during a protest in front of the Iran embassy in Rome, Thursday, Sept. 2, 2010.
A demonstrator holds a portrait of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani during a protest in front of the Iran embassy in Rome, Thursday, Sept. 2, 2010.   (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
Demonstrators hold portraits of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani during a protest in front of the Iran embassy in Rome, Thursday, Sept. 2, 2010.
Demonstrators hold portraits of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani during a protest in front of the Iran embassy in Rome, Thursday, Sept. 2, 2010.   (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
Iranian lawyer Mohammad Mostafaei answers reporters' questions at a press conference in Oslo, Norway Sunday Aug. 8, 2010. Mostafaei has applied for political asylum in Norway.
Iranian lawyer Mohammad Mostafaei answers reporters' questions at a press conference in Oslo, Norway Sunday Aug. 8, 2010. Mostafaei has applied for political asylum in Norway.   (AP Photo/Scanpix Norway/ Hakon Mosvold Larsen)
A giant photograph of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani hangs in central Rome, Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2010.
A giant photograph of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani hangs in central Rome, Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2010.   (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 14 comments
wildbillhickok
Sep 6, 2010 7:27 AM CDT
What is going on here? hillary and peloise have been over there and have put a stop to this stuff. Don't the leaders know what will happen if they have to come back?
Shannonals
Sep 5, 2010 8:49 PM CDT
Evidently the Vatican, like a large percentage of the United States, have never read the old testament.
Disillusioned
Sep 5, 2010 3:32 PM CDT
Yea, the Pope is watching just as he stood by and watched the Catholic Clergy a$$rape children so I know I ran is afraid As to them stoning this woman to death, many want to claim that you are not being fair to Muslims and it is a religion of love F*ck love if this is what love looks like I can do without it and as far as being unfair to Muslims If you believe in a religion that acts like this then you do indeed deserve to burn in that place you religious nuts call hell. Islam condones this barbaric crap, they condone the disfigurement of females in the case of removing female genitalia, they treat females as slave or worse and I have no use for the trash their idea of a Religion of love and Peace holds They disgust me with their blatant lies just as does this Pope

 
death penalty • Vatican • stoning • Iranian women • Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani

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