Posted on 12/25/2004 12:12:25 AM PST by DoctorZIn
Top News Story
A Special Christmas Story
by Joe Katzman at December 25, 2004 03:23 AM
I haven't talked about this, but over the past few weeks a number of bloggers have been working to help a certain gentleman escape from a dangerous situation in Iran and find freedom. Our Iranian friend is now out of the country and in a safe location, with people on the ground set up to help his transition and a refugee application in progress.
I'm told that our Iranian friend extends his profound gratitude to the crew of elves (Gary Metz, Emily, Jack Wheeler, Spirit of America's Kerry Dupont, Michael L., and Winds team members Dan Darling, Joe & Armed Liberal) for their advice and assistance along the way.
It was really touch-and-go for a while, and there were times I thought this might end very badly - but Christmas Eve had a gift up its sleeve. Thanks, Santa!
DoctorZin: The Christmas story above is about our Iranian Freeper who recently escaped Iran.
As of a few hours ago he is finally safe!
For the past few months it has been a roller coaster of emotions. Many small miracles and many disappointments. Until a few hours ago we didn't know if our Iranian Freeper would actually make it to freedom or be sent back to Iran. We are all very relieved to hear he finally made it.
He was exhausted and is now sleeping. But I am pleased to report that he has a great place to stay for the time being and will be guided through the upcoming legal processes from other Iranians who have gone through them themselves. He is in great hands.
We will publish more details when it is appropriate. Please be patient.
What a wonder Christmas gift.
We have a lot to be thankful for tonight. Thanks for all your prayers.
Please ping list thread and spread the word.
"If you want on or off this Iran ping list, Freepmail DoctorZin
Wellll now, that is GREAT news!
Join Us At Today's Iranian Alert Thread – The Most Underreported Story Of The Year!
"If you want on or off this Iran ping list, Freepmail DoctorZin”
Yes it is!
God bless you.
Stoning of adulterous woman put on hold
http://www.iranmania.com/News/ArticleView/Default.asp?NewsCode=28055&NewsKind=Current%20Affairs
Friday, December 24, 2004 - ©2004 IranMania.com
LONDON, Dec 24 (IranMania) - Iranian authorities have temporarily stayed the execution by stoning of a woman convicted of adultery while her case is studied by the judiciary pardons commission, the press reported Thursday.
Hajieh Esmailvand, whose plight has been taken up by rights group Amnesty International, was originally sentenced by a court in the northwestern town of Jolfa to be flogged 100 times, jailed for five years and then hanged.
According to the press report, her lover, identified only as Ruhollah G., who was 17 years old at the time of the affair, has been sentenced to hang and is still awaiting execution.
In its report, reformist daily Tosseh said the two had murdered Esmailvand's husband in 2000.
The Supreme Court later changed Esmailvand's sentence to stoning because of the adultery, as is permitted under Islamic law.
But an unnamed judiciary official said the "stoning has been stayed pending a decision by the pardons commission."
There was no indication of when that might be expected.
Right group Amnesty International has called on its members to appeal to the Iranian authorities for the stoning to be stopped.
According to Amnesty, Iran's penal code is very specific about the manner of execution and types of stones that should be used.
It states that men should be buried up to their waists and women up to their breasts for the purpose of execution by stoning. However, those who manage to free themselves are spared.
It also says, with reference to the penalty for adultery, that the stones used should "not be large enough to kill the person by one or two strikes, nor should they be so small that they could not be defined as stones."
According to AFP, although the exact date of Esmailvand's arrest and trial are not known, it is reported that she has been imprisoned in Jolfa since January 2000.
Amnesty said reports suggested that the Supreme Court has ordered that the remainder of her prison sentence be annulled so that the stoning sentence could be carried out before December 21.
But no sentence of stoning has been carried out in Iran for more than a year, with the practice seeming to have been suspended since the end of 2002 under pressure from the European Union, which has made human rights a touchstone of talks with Tehran on closer trade ties, AFP added.
Murder, armed robbery, rape, apostasy and serious drug trafficking are also punishable by hanging in Iran.
Fantastic, Doc.
One at a time works until such time they can flood over the borders or overthrow the oppressive regime in power.
cool.
very very ... cool.
Thank God! God Bless you and the other people who helped this Freeper get out of Iran! You guys are fantastic!
What wonderful news on this Christmas morning! Packages are wrapped and under the tree and I just finished the stockings when I decided to come on FR and see if there was any news! I am so glad that I did log on the computer to read that the Iranian Freeper is free!
Merry Christmas!
This is wonderful news! Merry Christmas, and may God bless these brave men and women, and the Iranians still battling for their freedom...
Amen to that dandelion and Christmas blessings to you.
It's nice to see a happy story on Christmas morning.
Hopefully, the new year will find all of Iran free!
Beware, the Iranian gov't is reading these posts.
They may want to extracate jamie gorelick and her husband.
Gee, I can't imagine why!
A Christmas Miracle, Thank you God.
Ping
Great news!
This is an unexpected package to open this morning. Great news!
GREAT NEWS!
What a Present! Some of the best ones don't fit under the tree!
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
"Murder, armed robbery, rape, apostasy and serious drug trafficking are also punishable by hanging in Iran."
By supporting terrorism, the Iranian government has murdered hundreds. I hope they will follow their religion and hang themselves.
WOW, MERRY CHRISTMAS INDEED! What a JOY to read that this dear "lover of FREEDOM" is in good hands. I'm glad that other Iranians who have already been through this are helping him. Thanks so much doc for the update, and please continue to give us updates when you can. : )
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