Iran stoning woman's son arrested with German journalists

guardian.co.uk

Sajad Ghaderzadeh, son of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, held after talking to two journalists working without permission in Iran

Iran is to put the son of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, the woman who was sentenced to death by stoning, on trial for giving an interview to foreign journalists who were working without permission in the country.

Sajad Ghaderzadeh, 22, was arrested on 10 October along with two German journalists who interviewed him in the north-western city of Tabriz. Mohammadi Ashtiani's government-appointed lawyer, Houtan Kian, who was present during the interview, was also detained.

According to the Iran's Committee Against Stoning (Icas), Ghaderzadeh was supposed to be put on trial today but the court session was postponed for further investigations. He has been denied access to lawyers since his arrest and his family has been unable to communicate with him.

Mina Ahadi, of Icas, who had been in regular contact with Ghaderzadeh since his mother was sentenced to death by stoning after being convicted of adultery, said: "Iran is obviously very embarrassed by the world's condemnation of the stoning sentence of Sakineh, and this is largely because of the courage Sajad has shown in supporting his mother. Iran is trying to take revenge on him now."

Ghaderzadeh, a Tabriz bus conductor, launched an international campaign for the release of his mother in late June when Iranian officials did not respond to his letters pleading for clemency.

He succeeded in bringing Mohammadi Ashtiani's case into the world's attention by writing an open letter highlighting the stoning punishment. "There's no justice in this country," he wrote at the time.

He gave several interviews to foreign media, including the Observer. "He knew he would risk his own life by criticising the Iranian regime for such a brutal punishment but nothing ever stopped him defending his innocent mother," Ahadi said.

Amnesty International, which has condemned the arrests, said the Iranian government had not responded to its enquiries over the issue.

Germany has been seeking the release of the two journalists, who were apparently travelling on tourist visas. Iran said today it had granted them consular access.