Following the campaign to save Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani from stoning (and do not let up, some say the sentence is still in place), there are still other women at risk of death by stoning - firstly Maryam Ghorbanzadeh is a pregnant 25 year old and when she has had her baby the sentence will be carried out. Then there is a 19 year old, Azar Bagheri, who was arrested at only 15. In addition to the mental torture of knowing her sentence, Azar has twice been subjected to a "mock execution" when she has been buried up to her chest as if to be stoned.

 

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Dr Zahra Rahnavard:

 

"I am a strong supporter of women's rights and against all forms of discrimination against women. I have never seen stoning discussed any where in the holy Quran. I believe that this discussion does not exist in the holy Quran and my personal studies of the Quran have only shown compassion towards humanity. I am highly critical of any form of discrimination against women, do not view these laws as Islamic and believe that they must be corrected. I will never compromise on this issue and have personally prepared myself for the gallows."