Iran: Two sisters face execution by stoning

Zohreh Kabiri-niat and her sister Azar (who is usually known as Akram) are facing execution by stoning, for "adultery," a charge they deny. They were arrested on 4 February 2007 after claims that they had had "illicit relations".

They were initially sentenced, along with a third sister and two men, to flogging, with this sentence reportedly being carried out. However, a fresh charge of "committing adultery while being married" was then brought against Zohreh and Azar. They were both found guilty and their sentence of death by stoning was then approved by the Supreme Court.

Background information

A moratorium on execution by stoning was ordered by the Head of the Judiciary, Ayatollah Shahroudi, in December 2002. Despite this, sentences of death by stoning in Iran are still being passed and, on occasion, carried out.

Iran's Penal Code prescribes execution by stoning. It even dictates that the stones are large enough to cause pain, but not so large as to kill the victim immediately. Article 102 of the Penal Code states that men should be buried up to their waists and women up to their breasts for the purpose of execution by stoning. Article 104 states, with reference to the penalty for adultery, that the stones used should "not be large enough to kill the person by one or two strikes; nor should they be so small that they could not be defined as stones".

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• Read about our campaign to stop violence against women

Zohreh Kabiri-niat and her sister Azar (who is usually known as Akram) are facing execution by stoning, for "adultery," a charge they deny. They were arrested on 4 February 2007 after claims that they had had "illicit relations".

They were initially sentenced, along with a third sister and two men, to flogging, with this sentence reportedly being carried out. However, a fresh charge of "committing adultery while being married" was then brought against Zohreh and Azar. They were both found guilty and their sentence of death by stoning was then approved by the Supreme Court.

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