Remaining absent from the coverage surrounding the International outcry against Iran and the case of Sakineh Ashtiani, her imprisoned son Sajjad, her lawyer, Houtan Kian, and the two German journalists arrested on October 10, 2010, is the American media. Minimal coverage has been seen online in the Washington Post and The New York Times. Cable news networks have also reserved any reference to the story for their online blogs. While the Canadian Newswire and The Guardian are giving the story ample coverage, the citizens of the United States of America, whose voice could offer a significant force in appealing to the Islamic Republic of Iran, remain unaware that anything is happening at all.

It is no coincidence either that the timing of Iran’s announcement to move forward with the execution of Sakineh Ashtiani occurred during the Mid-Term Elections. Nor does it surprise me that anyone I reached out to in the American Media responded. Election nights are chaotic enough in every major newsroom and they all reserve their coverage for following and reporting their outcome. However, now that the results are almost all in, why are they still remaining silent? Why will they not join the International community, who see this as a leading story?

As the execution of Ashtiani remains imminent and the global protest continues, those participating know this is affecting the Iranian Government enough to pause and hold a stay of execution. However, as of 20:00 (EST) those familiar with the Iranian Judiciary Process, are well aware of the precarious nature of how this affects both the case of Sakineh Ashtiani and others awaiting execution. America’s MSM has yet to step up and report on this story for the American people. I implore those who can influence the heads of editorial to consider giving a reasonable amount of coverage in order to inform our citizens of this horrific case.

Most recent coverage here, advocates for the efforts to save an Iranian mother’s life. Dr. Phyllis Chesler offers a solid synopsis of what is happening right now. However, we still need your help. We need you to spread word of this effort to put pressure on the UN, Iran’s allies and join in with the rest of world, condemning the treatment and human rights violation in the case of Sakineh Ashianti, her son and the two German journalists currently imprisoned by Iran’s government.

From The New York Times, November 4, 2010

By The Associated Press

The rights group Amnesty International has urged Iran to immediately release the son and the lawyer of an Iranian woman sentenced to death by stoning for adultery, saying the two were only trying to save her life. According to the London-based group, the woman’s son, Sajad Ghaderzadeh, and her lawyer, Javid Houtan Kian, were arrested Oct. 10, along with two German citizens who were seeking to interview the son. Iran has temporarily suspended the stoning verdict against the woman, Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, 43, and suggested that she might be hanged instead for her involvement with the murder of her husband. Ms. Ashtiani remains on death row in Tabriz and “could be scheduled for execution at any time,” Ann Harrison, Amnesty’s Iran expert, said Thursday

From The Guardian

By Matt Kennard, November 4, 18:01 GMT

It’s shameful that other Latin American leaders have not followed Lula’s lead on offering sanctuary to Iran’s condemned woman.

I furthermore encourage people not to underestimate the propaganda and misinformation released by Iran to international news organizations. Just as they timed the announcement of her execution to coincide with the US Mid-Term Elections, their efforts to further subvert the media with false information and claims will continue.

From Reuters Africa

November 4, 23:00 GMT

A statement from Iran’s Embassy in London Thursday said legal hurdles still remain in Ashtiani’s court case.

“The Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in London hereby announces that the recent reports and news concerning the imminent execution of Mrs Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani are all baseless and are strongly rejected,” it said.

“The judicial proceedings and process dealing with the case have not been completed yet. All the recent reports in this regard, merely baseless claims, are meant to stage a propaganda campaign and create a poisonous atmosphere against the Islamic Republic of Iran,” it said.

 

This is not a campaign against Iran. This is not an attempt to slander their country. It is a campaign to save a woman from unjust torture and imprisonment. It is a campaign to save her life and send a message to every country in the world, that while we respect every nation’s individual rights, we will not excuse a country from denying its citizens fundamental human rights.

Furthermore, it is important to note that the Islamic Republic of Iran may very well execute her by hanging, instead of stoning, to alleviate pressure from the International Community condemning the execution of women by stoning. Yesterday, when Mina Ahadi, spokesperson for the International Committee Against Stoning (ICAS) attended an online meeting in Paltalk, it was interrupted by a group threatening Ms. Ahadi. A new room was then opened under the title, “We Demand The Stoning of Mina Ahadi.”

The American Public needs to know that the case of Sakineh Ashtiani is among many untold stories about women who are denied the basic tenants of human rights. Yes, her situation calls for immediate action and it will take only a moment of your time to sign the two petitions which are helping to stop Iran from executing her.

http://freesakineh.org

24 HOURS TO SAVE SAKINEH

Sadly, Sakineh is not alone. Please, America, we can take action that will make a difference. Instead of engaging in the partisan socio-political banter, encouraged by the MSM, we have the freedom to speak out against the violation of human rights, happening right now, in countries outside of our own.

NO WOMAN, NO MAN, NO PERSON SHOULD EVER BE STONED TO DEATH