Iran sentences woman to death by stoning for adultery

Iran Focus:

Tehran, Iran, Oct. 15 – A court in Iran sentenced a woman to death by stoning for adultery and an Afghan man to execution and 100 lashes on charges of murder, a state-run daily reported on Saturday.

The woman, identified by her first name Soqra, was accused of adultery and aiding the Afghan man, identified as Alireza, in the murder of her husband, also from Afghanistan. Soqra maintained her innocence throughout the trial, according to the daily Etemaad. A Tehran court sentenced Soqra to be stoned to death for adultery and she also received a 15-year jail sentence for her part in the murder, while, Alireza was sentenced to death for the murder and to 100 lashes for adultery, while, Etemaad reported.

Her son testified that he had witnessed the Afghan man commit the murder.

Soqra had said that her parents had forced her to marry an Afghan man against her will. The pair had two children and Soqra said that her husband beat her repeatedly.

Alireza was found guilty of stabbing to death Soqra’s husband. The two ran away from Tehran to the central city of Isfahan after the murder, but were arrested several days later.