Iran confirms two German arrested in stoning case

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Ramin Mehmanparast, spokesman for Iranian foreign ministry

Ramin Mehmanparast, spokesman for Iran’s foreign ministry confirmed the arrest of two German citizens in Iran on Sunday in connection with the case of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani.

Iranian media report that Mehmanparst said: “Two individuals calling themselves reporters approached the family of Ms. Sakineh Mohammadi to prepare a report. They were carrying tourist visas and since they were connected with anti-Revolutionary networks, they have been arrested.”

He added: “It is not clear whether these two individuals are reporters and their situation has to be investigated. If they were reporters, they should have entered the country with journalist and media visas.”

Ramin Mehmanparast confirmed that the two were arrested in Tabriz upon arriving at the home of Sakineh Mohammadi but did not elaborate on their current whereabouts.

The spokesman for the foreign ministry added: “Some sources have said that they are German nationals. The anti-Revolutionary group that has organized their visit to Sakineh Mohammadi’s home is based in Germany.”

Yesterday the International Committee against the Death Penalty and the International Committee against Stoning reported that two German reporters had gone to the office of Javid Houtankian, the lawyer of the Iranian woman sentenced to stoning, in order to interview Mohammadi’s son and lawyer but in the course of a government raid on the office, all four were arrested.

German media as well as Iran’s spokesman for the judiciary, Gholamhosein Mohseni Ejei, confirmed the arrest of two German nationals yesterday; however, Ejei stressed that the two foreigners are by no means journalists and carry tourist visas.

Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani is an Iranian mother of two who was sentenced to 99 lashes for the charge of having illicit sexual relations. Another court later sentenced her to stoning for alleged involvement in the murder of her husband.

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has denied the existence of the stoning sentence and Iranian authorities have accused the West of using this issue to create adverse publicity for Iran in the international arena.