Woman sentenced to death by stoning may be hanged instead

Authorities are again moving ahead with plans to execute a woman sentenced to death by stoning on an adultery conviction in a case that sparked an international outcry, officials said yesterday.

But they are now considering whether to hang Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani rather than stone her to death.

The case stirred such condemnation that Iran suspended plans to carry out the death sentence after Ashtiani’s conviction for adultery in July last year.

A senior judiciary official said yesterday experts were studying the case.

“We are waiting to see whether we can carry out the execution of a person sentenced to stoning by hanging or not,” said Malek Ajdar Sharifi, the head of justice department of East Azerbaijan province

“As soon as the result [of the investigation] is obtained, we will carry out the sentence.”