13 Dec 2010

PETE TOWNSHEND JOINS OTHER LEADING FIGURES TO URGE FREEDOM FOR IRANIAN WOMAN

LONDON, Dec 13, 2010 (AFP) – More than 80 leading figures signed a letter Monday urging Iran to free Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, the woman sentenced to death by stoning in a case that has attracted global attention.
 
The signatories said she had “suffered enough”.
 
The letter to The Times is addressed to Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, and signed by artists, academics and politicians, including Robert de Niro, Pete Townshend and V.S Naipaul.
 
It follows widespread reports last week that she had been freed, which proved to be incorrect.
 
Instead Mohammadi Ashtiani appeared in a documentary made by Iranian television Friday taking part in what appeared to be a re-enactment of her husband’s murder.
 
The programme also carried interviews with her son and her lawyer, who are also both in jail.
 
To read the letter, CLICK HERE