Bahrain, Jul 12 (Gulf Daily News): A BAHRAINI rights group is backing a global campaign to save Iranian women from being brutally stoned to death, saying such draconian punishments were holding back the entire region.
The Bahrain Human Rights Watch Society (BHRWS) is also demanding the death penalty be scrapped altogether at home and around the world, as well as an end to other "mediaeval" punishments - such as the cutting off of hands.
Campaign
It follows the news that Iranian Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, 43, was sentenced to stoning after being convicted of adultery.
"We have joined an international campaign to stop this brutal punishment because it is everyone's duty to safeguard a human being's basic rights," said BHRWS secretary general Faisal Fulad.
"We are representing the campaign in Bahrain to raise awareness and call on people to stand together against any such crime against humanity.
"This is a serious issue and we hope to raise awareness about it."
Latest reports suggest Iran was reviewing the decision to stone Ms Ashtiani, but activists and officials have warned the mother-of-two could still be hanged - as has happened in other cases.
Stoning involves burying people up to their necks in the ground and hurling large rocks at their heads until they die.
Mr Fulad said it was time Bahrain, its neighbours and other countries around the globe stopped executing convicts by any means.
Only last Thursday Bahrain executed a Bangladeshi for the murder of his countryman Risar Mian in October 2005 over money.
"We are against all kinds of execution in every country because everyone is entitled to their own life and if we take it away, then we will be just as bad as those cold-blooded murderers," said Mr Fulad.
"No person or state has the right to take someone's life away no matter what he did.
"They can convict them to life in prison or sentence them to 25 years in prison twice, but not execute them.
"Not only that, but also medieval ways of punishing offenders halts the humanitarian progress we have made.
"Countries such as Saudi Arabia should stop cutting off hands of thieves, as was practised thousands of years ago.
"Our religion is not based on torture and cruelty.
"The only problem is that our religious scholars misinterpret what should be practised."
The BHRWS is now urging people in Bahrain to throw their weight behind the Stop Stoning, Save Sakineh campaign, which was launched by international rights group Avaaz to save Ms Ashtiani, 15 other women and a man from the horrific punishment.
It kicked off after Ms Ashtiani's two sons approached international groups and asked them to pressure Iran to save their mother.
They claim she was convicted of adultery after an unjust trial, saying she was coerced into confessing.
Ms Ashtiani and the 16 others are all said to be facing stoning after being convicted of adultery.
The campaign launched on their behalf urges people around the world to unite and save lives.
"Ms Ashtiani's brave children are leading the international campaign to save their mother and stop stoning," said a statement published on Avaaz's official website.
"Massive international condemnation now could finally stop this sickening punishment. Let's join together today across the world to end this brutality."
Petition
An online petition against stoning had yesterday gathered more than 130,000 votes, just three days after its launch.
To sign the petition, visit http://www.avaaz.org/en/stop_stoning/98.php?cl_taf_sign=6fR43TVf.
Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch are among those calling for an end to stoning in Iran.
However, Iranian Embassy officials in Bahrain were unavailable for comment yesterday.