Iran: Gilan Mohammadi and Gholamali Eskandari acquitted and released

A man and a woman were released from prison in the central Iranian city of Esfahan on 4 October following their acquittal in a retrial after their convictions for "adultery while being married" were quashed by the Head of the Judiciary.

Gilan Mohammadi and Gholamali Eskandari had been held in Esfahan Central Prison since 2003. They were sentenced to death by stoning probably in 2005 or 2006. Their sentences had been confirmed by the Supreme Court some time in 2008.

In January 2009 human rights defenders and lawyers Mohammad Mostafaie and Shadi Sadr attempted to become their legal representatives but were prevented from doing so by several prison and judicial officials. In an interview printed in the 15 January issue of the Iranian newspaper 'Etemad-e Melli, Shadi Sadr, said that the action of the judicial officials in Esfahan was unlawful, and that these two people had been denied their right to legal representation. She said that she and her colleague intended to complain about this, so that Gilan Mohammadi and Gholamali Eskandari were granted their right to legal representation.

Following a review of their case, the Head of the Judiciary ordered the case to be sent for retrial, in which Gilan Mohammadi and Gholamali Eskandari were represented by an Esfahan lawyer, Ruhollah Mohammadi. The couple were both acquitted and released on 4 October.

Source: Amnesty International: Nov. 15, 2009

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Florida executes Andrew Richard Lukehart

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New Mississippi billboard warns criminals: ‘Firing squad is legal’

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