Woman ‘confesses’ to killing on TV

AN Iranian woman sentenced to death by stoning for adultery confesses to helping a man kill her husband in a re-enactment on state television — the latest state-orchestrated broadcast in a case that has raised an international outcry.

Yesterday’s broadcast on English-language Press TV is an apparent attempt to deflect international criticism over the adultery sentence by bolstering Iran’s separate charge that Sakineh Mohammedi Ashtiani also was involved in murder.

Iran has put the stoning sentence on hold but could use the murder conviction to justify executing the 43-year-old mother-of-two.

Press TV says the 43-year-old mother, who remains in prison in the city of Tabriz, was accompanied by her son for the filming. Her son and lawyer were arrested in October, along with two German journalists.

Iran put Ashtiani’s stoning sentence on hold amid pressure from rights groups, but says she has also been convicted of involvement in her husband’s death.

Amnesty International has criticised the broadcast of a purported confession, saying it violated international standards for a fair trial.