Iran to reject Brazil's offer on convicted woman
Iran will likely reject the Brazilian president's offer to give refuge to an Iranian woman convicted of adultery and initially sentenced to death by stoning. The case of 43-year-old Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani triggered an international outcry that prompted Iran to withdraw the stoning part of her sentence. But the mother of two could still face execution by hanging.
President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has said that Brazil, which has tried to negotiate a solution to Tehran's controversial nuclear program, could give her political asylum. Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman, Ramin Mehmanparast, said on Tuesday that Silva's offer reflected his "humane and emotional personality" but that the Brazilian leader probably has insufficient "information about the case." (AP)
