Iranian woman may still face stoning: son

The son of an Iranian woman convicted of adultery believes his mother is still facing a stoning death sentence despite reports that it had been suspended.

"I have spoken to my lawyer and he has said that I have not received any documents verifying that this sentence has been suspended. I'm saying that this sentence is still on," Sajjad Mohammadi Ashtiani told CBC Radio's As it Happens, speaking through an interpreter from Iran.

His mother, Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, was convicted in 2006 of having an "illicit relationship" with two men after the murder of her husband the year before and was sentenced at that time to 99 lashes.

Later that year, she was also convicted of adultery and sentenced to be stoned to death, even though she retracted a confession she says was made under duress. She may also be facing charges and a hanging sentence relating to her husband's murder.

Sajjad Mohammadi Ashtiani, 22, said that unless Iran's high court requests for the sentence to be annulled, the sentence may be implemented at any time.

He also said he and his sister tried to visit their mother but were not allowed to see her.

He said that he has heard from prison security contacts and his mother's cellmates that she was lashed after a picture purporting to be her without a headscarf was published in a British newspaper. The paper later said that the woman in the picture was not Ashtiani.

He has also heard that his mother is not in good condition, taking anti-depressants and is no longer in a private cell.

His own family is not being supportive, he said.

"I'm from a very religious family. When the Islamic Republic conducts interviews with my mother and broadcasts her confessions, my family puts pressure on us," Ashtiani said.  "Because of the interviews and because of the current situation, they claim this is a shame for our family."