The United States is urging Iran to halt the reportedly imminent execution of a woman who was originally sentenced to death by stoning for adultery.
A White House statement said the Obama administration condemns "in the strongest terms" the reported plan to execute Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani.
The U.S. statement said Iranian authorities had failed to provide "transparency and due process" in Ashtiani's case, and said the case demonstrates the Iranian government's "fundamental disregard for human rights, including those of women."
Ashtiani was originally sentenced to death by stoning for adultery -- a sentence which triggered international protests.
But the German-based International Campaign Against Stoning said Iranian authorities are planning to hang her today on charges of complicity in the murder of her husband.
France's Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner has said, however, that she will not be executed today, citing a telephone conversation with his Iranian counterpart, Manuchehr Mottaki .
compiled from agency reports
A White House statement said the Obama administration condemns "in the strongest terms" the reported plan to execute Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani.
The U.S. statement said Iranian authorities had failed to provide "transparency and due process" in Ashtiani's case, and said the case demonstrates the Iranian government's "fundamental disregard for human rights, including those of women."
Ashtiani was originally sentenced to death by stoning for adultery -- a sentence which triggered international protests.
But the German-based International Campaign Against Stoning said Iranian authorities are planning to hang her today on charges of complicity in the murder of her husband.
France's Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner has said, however, that she will not be executed today, citing a telephone conversation with his Iranian counterpart, Manuchehr Mottaki .
compiled from agency reports
