After all, the only thing the label of “moderate” guarantees is that one is somehow less “extreme” than the next guy. Still, according to this report, even this decision is a logistical one. The prison lacks the facilities to carry out the stoning, they say, though perhaps that claim aims to mollify those who would tolerate no retreat under pressure from the stoning sentence.
But just as fast as this story came out, there was also a denial and claims the official was misquoted. Time will tell.
An update on this story. “Iran Fails to Silence Critics by Changing Woman’s Death Sentence From Stoning to Hanging,” by Perry Chiaramonte for Fox News, December 28:
Iranian officials, already under fire for sentencing a woman to death by stoning, has done little to diminish international outcry by instead pursuing an execution by hanging.
Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, 44, was convicted back in 2006 for an “illicit relationship outside of marriage” and sentenced to death by stoning. The execution was delayed after protests across the globe, and Ashtiani has been detained in prison ever since.
On Sunday, the head judiciary, Malek Ajdar Sharifi said the prison does not have the “necessary facilities” to carry forth with the stoning and that they are considering hanging as an alternative.
Sharifi told the Isna News Agency that an investigation is being conducted to see if it is legally and religiously possible to execute Ashtiani by hanging and that once a determination is made, the sentence will be carried out…