Iran Judiciary Confirms Stoning of Jafar Kiani

Dr. Alireza Jamshidi, the Iranian Judiciary spokesman, announced in a press briefing held on 10 July 2007, that the stoning of Jafar Kiani had indeed taken place but the stoning of his partner, Mokarrameh Ebrahimi, is stayed. Jamshidi contrasted the supposed legality of the Kiani case with another case in Takistan. The Kiani case was legal supposedly because it had been confirmed by the Supreme Court: “Lately there has been a stoning sentence executed by a judge in Takistan branch, but in the judiciary branch there was not supposed to have such sentences executed this way and the ban order issued by the Head of Judiciary is to ensure appropriate caution by the judges in issuing and executing such sentences. But in this case since the sentence had been confirmed [by the Supreme Court] it was executed, but the woman’s sentence is stayed now.” The spokesman also discussed how judges can continue to issue such sentences despite the 2002 moratorium: The judiciary spokesman stated, “The extent to which the ban order can deprive a judge from independence is a long discussion, but a judge can act independently, although with the order of the Head of Judiciary, it is necessary to exercise more caution in issuing and executing these sentences.” He added: “The judiciary policy in these cases is derived from the law and shariah, that is why a [stoning sentence] has been issued and executed in very few and rare cases.”