Iranian courts have decided to uphold a death sentence by hanging for Rayhaneh Jabbari, a woman found guilty of murdering a man who attempted to rape her. New reports indicate that the hanging will be postponed, however, from its originally scheduled date, September 30.
Her mother, Shole Paravan, told FOX News Iran postponed the execution at the last minute. She did not provide more details on why the execution was postponed or if it is rescheduled. Jabbari already told her mother goodbye in a phone call early Tuesday morning.
“I am currently handcuffed and there is a car waiting outside to take me for the execution of the sentence,” she said. “Goodbye, dear Mum. All of my pains will finish early tomorrow morning. I’m sorry I cannot lessen your pain. Be patient. We believe in life after death. I’ll see you in the next world and I will never leave you again because being separated from you is the most difficult thing to do in the world.”
Jabbari was arrested in 2007. She worked as an interior designer and met Iranian Intelligence Services member Morteza Abdolali Sarbandi at a coffee shop. From The International Times:
The man approached her after he had overheard a work-related conversation she was having on the phone.
Interested in her work, the two arranged a meeting to discuss a possible renovation project on Sarbandi’s office.
On the day of the meeting, Sarbandi picked up Jabbari in his car and they headed to what Jabbari thought was the man’s office.
However, the man drove to a house. When the two entered the building, Sarbandi locked the door and allegedly tried to sexually assault Jabbari.
The two engaged in a scuffle which resulted in Jabbari stabbing the man, who bled to death.
On a table in the house were placed two glasses with a liquid, which lab analysis later revealed contained sedatives.
The execution was postponed in April after her family provided last minute pleas. The case triggered international outrage from human rights groups. Shabnam Assadollahi, an Iranian activist in Canada, along with Nazanin Afshin-Jam, Shadi Paveh, and Mina Ahadi, gathered 126,700 signatures to protest the execution. The protesters and Jabbari’s family said that “a small pocket knife and two stabs in the shoulder would not result in fatal consequences for a large man.” They “believe a third party may have been involved in the case and that Jabbari was set up.”
COMMENTS
Please let us know if you're having issues with commenting.