Iran woman in death row case spared from execution
Monday, November 03, 2003 - ©2003 IranMania.com
TEHRAN, Nov 3, (AFP) -- An Iranian woman condemned to death for killing a police officer she says was trying to rape her has had her case sent back to the supreme court by Iran's hardline-run judiciary, press reports said Monday.
The reports said the head of the judiciary, Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi-Shahrudi, ordered that the death sentence be lifted following "doubts" over the original court ruling.
"I also have doubts regarding the case, so I want it to be reviewed," the judiciary chief was quoted as writing to the supreme court after intensive lobbying by female reformist MPs.
In March, a court condemned 32-year-old Afsaneh Noruzi to hang for the stabbing death of a high-ranking officer she testified had tried to rape her in his office on the Gulf island of Kish in 1997.
Last month, Noruzi was notified of her imminent execution, sparking protests from women's rights advocates and a group of female MPs who argued that she was merely fulfilling her Islamic obligation to defend her honour.
Noruzi's supporters also lobbied Nobel Peace Prize winner Shirin Ebadi -- a prominent lawyer and women's rights activist -- to take up the case.
Reports said three female MPs -- Jamileh Kadivar, Azam Nasirpour and Tehereh Rezazadeh -- had written to thank Shahrudi for his decision.
http://www.iranmania.com/News/ArticleView/Default.asp?NewsCode=19311&NewsKind=Current%20AffairsMixed-sex party busted in Iran, 36 arrested
Monday, November 03, 2003 - ©2003 IranMania.com
TEHRAN, Nov 3, (AFP) -- Thirty-six young people have been arrested after Iranian police raided a mixed-sex birthday party near the capital Tehran following complaints from neighbours, the Iran newspaper reported Monday.
The paper said the raid was carried out in the satellite city of Karaj after local residents called a police hotline to complain of noise. Among those arrested was the owner of the home, who argued that she was merely throwing a birthday party for her children.
It said she was released on bail of 150 million rials (17,850 dollars) while the other partygoers were let out after posting 10 million rialsdollars).
Punishments for mixed-sex parties and dancing -- strictly banned in Iran -- include heavy fines, short jail terms and lashings.
http://www.iranmania.com/News/ArticleView/Default.asp?NewsCode=19314&NewsKind=Current%20Affairs