11 July, International Day against Stoning

On 11 July, International Day against Stoning – we can make a dif­fe­rence

Yes, we can make a dif­fe­rence. I say this, because we alre­ady have. No doubt, Sakineh Ashtiani is still alive today because of the public out­cry, the world­wide pro­tests and mes­sa­ges in her sup­port.

People ever­y­where are outra­ged that such a mons­trous bru­ta­lity can still be hap­pe­ning today. Sakineh is still in pri­son and the Iranian regime can exe­cute her any day, by sto­n­ing or other methods. And don’t think for a moment that this is justice. From the inhu­mane and miso­gy­nistic laws, false alle­ga­ti­ons, sham tri­als, being con­vic­ted because of the ‘know­ledge’ of the jud­ges, her incar­ce­ra­tion in soli­tary con­fi­ne­ment, to the han­ding down of a sen­tence that is never a punish­ment but sadistic tor­ture. Stoning in pla­ces like Iran is a sanc­tio­ned, atro­cious crime.

Of course, Sakineh is not the only one lan­gu­is­hing in a pri­son cell, cut off from the world. Beginning and ending every day not kno­wing how long she has to live, how long it will be before she is being drag­ged out of her cell to be mur­de­red. Ten years ago, on 11 July 2001, the Islamic regime in Iran did just that to Maryam Ayubi. The mother of three was sto­ned to death in Evin Prison. There are the names and the hor­ren­dous deaths of 150 other people who were also sto­ned to death by the regime – and these are just the ones we know of. In Somalia, a 13-year-old girl repor­ted to the aut­ho­ri­ties that she had been gang-raped by three men. For that she was char­ged with extra-marital sex and sto­ned to death in a foot­ball sta­dium by 50 men. Her name was Aisho Ibrahim Dhuhulow.

The night­mare of sto­n­ing con­ti­nues. We know of at least 20 people in Iran alone who are in pri­son at this very moment, having been sen­tenced to death by sto­n­ing.

Being held in a dun­geon of iso­la­tion and fear, Sakineh won’t know that the world is still try­ing to save her. She won’t know that there are people and more people cal­ling onto the world to save her. And the world, that is us. We will have to make so much noise, so much com­mo­tion that the news of our sup­port will reach her. We will keep on the pres­sure until Sakineh is safely released.

11 July is just the begin­ning of the end of sto­n­ing in Iran and ever­y­where else.

We will make it hap­pen. With our actions we can make a dif­fe­rence for someone like Sakineh who we have never met, but whose solemn face has been imprin­ted on our minds as a sym­bol of a mons­trous crime that will con­ti­nue. Unless we stop it.

Patty Debonitas
Iran Solidarity

read also Maryam Namzie: Statements and actions in Support of International Day against Stoning