Please make a stand today!

I have just read some very disturbing news on a blog that I linked to named Eteraz.

Please take a minute or two out of your day to do the following:

- Sign these two petitions which refer to the two of the seven women sentenced. Activists in the US have gotten personal confirmation that Iranian officials were influenced by petitions when they previously ordered stays of executions. The first is for a woman named Kobra. The second is for a woman named Malak.

- Submit the following letter (or something like it) to the Supreme Iranian Leader Ayatollah Khameini at his email address (info@leader.ir OR istiftaa@wilayah.org):

Your Excellency,

May this reach you in the best of health and faith. On this day I beseech you to direct your attention to the fates of seven women of your nation who are to be executed by sangsar (stoning to death). I ask simply that you commute their sentences and disallow the use of the punishment of stoning to death in the future. Indeed, you must be aware that in 2002 your government placed a moratorium on the practice. Indeed, you must also be aware that the United Nations, which provided President Ahmedinejad the opportunity to promote the Iranian nation as one which is just and fair, has ruled that treating fornication and adultery as criminal offenses violates human rights laws. In fact, stoning these women to death would breach Iran’s committment under article 6(2) of the International Covenent on Civil and Political Rights. Indeed, you must be aware, as the Vilayet e Faqih, that the Quran extols “God is the Forgiving, the Loving.” (85:14). Indeed, you must be aware, as the Foremost Jurist, that the punishment for stoning to death does not exist in the Quran and is part of the Shariah via a hadith cited on the authority of Omar, the second Caliph. Iran is a great nation and many in the West wish for friendly and peaceful relationships with it, and the Muslim world at large, as equals. However, we as friends of the Iranian People do not wish the Nation of Iran of to violate the human rights norms with which the rest of the world abides. We ask that you not permit your citizens to be stoned to death. We further ask that you call for a halt for all future stonings. Finally, we ask that you grant your Minister of Justice, His Excellency, Ayatollah Shahroudi, the power to commute death sentences to life imprisonment.

A Friend of Iran
(Sign Your Name)

You may also modify your letter to “Further…” ask him to treat minorities equal under the law, and to provide equality of rights for women, as in Iran a woman’s testimony counts only half as much as man’s.

- CC this message to the ambassador of Iran in London, His Excellency Mr. Hamid Reza Nafez Arefi: consulate@iran-embassy.org.uk

- Go to this website — of the Ministry of Justice in Iran — and paste this letter into the text area. The website is in Farsi but you can type in English. The first box is for your name; second box for your email address; third box for the subject; and fourth big box for the text. The Minister of Justice is His Excellency Ayatollah Shahroudi.

Your Excellency,

May this reach you in the best of health and faith. On this day I beseech you to direct your attention to the fates of seven women of your nation who are to be executed by sangsar (stoning to death). I ask simply that you commute their sentences. I also ask that you indefinitely postpone the executions of these women and others like them.
You may be aware that the United Nations, which provided President Ahmedinejad the opportunity to promote the Iranian nation as one which is just and fair, has ruled that treating fornication and adultery as criminal offenses violates human rights laws. In fact, stoning these women to death would breach Iran’s committment under article 6(2) of the International Covenent on Civil and Political Rights. Indeed, you must be aware that the Quran extols “God is the Forgiving, the Loving.” (85:14). Iran is a great nation and many in the West wish for friendly and peaceful relationships with it, and the Muslim world at large, as equals. However, I as a friend of the Iranian People do not wish the Nation of Iran of to violate the human rights norms with which the rest of the world abides. I ask that you not permit your citizens to be stoned to death. We further ask that you call for a halt for all future stonings. I finally ask that you request your superiors for the power to commute death sentences to life imprisonment.

A Friend of Iran
(Sign Your Name)


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Thank you!

Peace be with you, at this time when we have so much to be Thankful for.