Iran calls crusading Carla Bruni 'a prostitute'

• Carla Bruni. Pic: Getty

Under the headline "French Prostitutes Also Entered the Human Rights Cry", Kayhan wrote: "Recently, Carla Bruni, the infamous wife of Nicolas Sarkozy, and Isabelle Adjani, the morally corrupted French actress, expressed support for S.M (Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani]."

The daily added: "Bruni managed to break up Sarkozy's marriage and become France's first lady, yet recently there's been news about her having an affair with a singer."

Despite its small circulation, Kayhan (Universe] is an influential hardline daily whose editor is appointed by Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei.

Iranian state television also joined in the scurrilous attack on Ms Bruni, claiming that the former "danseuse and model" had probably intervened in the Ashtiani case to "cover up her own extra-marital relations".

In a passionate open letter to Ashtiani published on a French news website, Ms Bruni wrote last week: "In the depths of your cell, know that my husband will plead your cause unfailingly and that France will not abandon you."

She continued: "Your judges must know, Sakineh, your name has become a symbol the world over… they shall never be able to wash their hands of such a crime."

Kayhan's diatribe against Ms Bruni came after she joined an initiative launched last week by Bernard-Henri Levy, the French philosopher, to increase the pressure on the Iranian regime to spare Ashtiani, a 43-year-old mother of two.

The first letter in his campaign was from Isabelle Adjani, the French actress, who told Ashtiani that her prosecutors were "crazed with rage at the simple idea of love - yes, love - that your liberty represents".

There was also a letter from Segolene Royal, the former French presidential candidate.

Authorities in Iran said on Saturday it has yet to take a final decision on the stoning of Ashtiani, who was convicted of adultery and complicity in her husband's murder.

"In this case, implementation of the sentence has been stayed and is under review by the judiciary," said Iran's foreign ministry spokesman, Ramin Mehmanparast.

France stepped up diplomatic pressure on Iran over the case last Friday by urging the European Union to adopt new sanctions if Ashtiani is stoned to death.

Bernard Kouchner, France's foreign minister, wrote to the EU's foreign policy chief, Catherine Ashton, calling for a joint warning to Iran by all member states not to carry out the sentence.In response, Ms Ashton said: "The moment has come for the European Union to collectively express its rejection of practices of another age."

The international outrage ignited by Ashtiani's stoning sentence has angered the Iranian regime. Iran's judiciary would not "succumb" to Western pressure, Mr Mehmanparast insisted.

"The West must know that we cannot release criminals," he said. "Imagine if Western countries freed all criminals. There would be no order in society."