CNN) -- Brazil's president has offered asylum to
an Iranian woman sentenced to death by stoning, state-run media reported
Saturday.
President Luiz Ignacio Lula da Silva was quoted by Brazil's official
state news agency EBC as saying "I want to make an appeal to my friend
Ahmadinejad ... and to the government of Iran to allow Brazil to take in
the woman."
Brazil recently participated in talks with Iran aimed at restarting
negotiations about Iran's nuclear program.
In May, Brazil helped broker a deal with Iran that would provide Tehran
with enriched uranium for medical research.
Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani was convicted of adultery in 2006 and was
originally sentenced to death by stoning. Iranian authorities say the
sentence has been put on hold, but there have been no reports as to
whether a new sentence has been imposed.
The 43-year-old mother of two is reportedly still
being held held in Tabriz prison.
Iran's judiciary could reinstate her sentence of death by stoning,
execute her by another means, or possibly even grant her a reprieve,
according to human rights groups.
Ashtiani's attorney, Mohammad Mostafaei, told CNN earlier this month
that his client confessed to the crime after being subjected to 99
lashes. He said she later recanted the confession and denied any
wrongdoing.
Mostafaei has gone into hiding since last weekend after being
interrogated by Iranian authorities, human rights groups say. Advocates
and Mostafaei say his wife and brother-in-law are being held by Iranian
authorities.
A letter believed to be written by Mostafaei was posted on the Internet
on Saturday, calling for the release of his relatives. The lawyer says
he has cooperated with interrogators, and says his wife and
brother-in-law are victims of of "hostage taking."
Mostafaei said he and his family are innocent of any wrongdoing.
The Guardian newspaper previously reported that Mostafaei's wife was
arrested when they were unable to find him.
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