BRUSSELS - (AFP) - Chief European Union diplomat Catherine Ashton was "deeply concerned" at reports that the execution of a woman convicted of adultery in Iran was "imminent," her spokeswoman said Tuesday.
French human rights activists demanding the freedom of Iranian mother Sakineh Mohammadi-Ashtiani say they fear she could be executed as early as Wednesday.
"Ashton is deeply concerned by reports that the execution of Ms Sakineh Mohammadi-Ashtiani may be imminent," a statement said. "She demands that Iran halts the execution and converts her sentence."
Mohammadi-Ashtiani "has been at risk of execution by stoning for adultery, a particularly cruel method of execution which amounts to unacceptable torture," the statement added.
"While the Iranian authorities have given assurances that Ms Ashtiani would not be killed by stoning, she has since faced charges for alleged complicity in the murder of her husband and may be executed by hanging.
"Neither sentence is acceptable," Ashton's office said.
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