OTTAWA - Laureen Harper is again calling on the Iranian government to release a woman who has been sentenced to death.
The Canadian prime minister's wife renewed her appeal for Sakineh Mohammadi-Ashtiani today after reports that the woman had been freed proved false. Confusion over the case appears to have been prompted by photographs of Mohammadi-Ashtiani meeting her son at her home.
Iran's state-run Press TV cleared up the matter today, reporting that the 43-year-old was brought to her home outside the city of Tabriz to "produce a visual recount of the crime at the murder scene."
Ashtiani was sentenced to death by stoning after appearing on TV to confess to her husband's murder — a confession her lawyers say was forced.
The sentence was changed to hanging after a massive international outcry, and she has been awaiting execution.
"Today I was deeply saddened to learn that Iran is continuing its gross abuse of Ms. Ashtiani's rights," Harper said in a statement.
"The free women here in Canada and around the world will not rest until Ms. Ashtiani and other women unjustly imprisoned in Iran are freed and their human rights respected."
The Canadian prime minister's wife renewed her appeal for Sakineh Mohammadi-Ashtiani today after reports that the woman had been freed proved false. Confusion over the case appears to have been prompted by photographs of Mohammadi-Ashtiani meeting her son at her home.
Iran's state-run Press TV cleared up the matter today, reporting that the 43-year-old was brought to her home outside the city of Tabriz to "produce a visual recount of the crime at the murder scene."
Ashtiani was sentenced to death by stoning after appearing on TV to confess to her husband's murder — a confession her lawyers say was forced.
The sentence was changed to hanging after a massive international outcry, and she has been awaiting execution.
"Today I was deeply saddened to learn that Iran is continuing its gross abuse of Ms. Ashtiani's rights," Harper said in a statement.
"The free women here in Canada and around the world will not rest until Ms. Ashtiani and other women unjustly imprisoned in Iran are freed and their human rights respected."
