Iran Spares Woman From Stoning: Report

Human-rights groups said Thursday they had heard credible reports that Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, who had been sentenced to stoning for adultery, has been freed. There has yet to be any confirmation from Iran. Also fueling rumors of Ashtiani’s release was a trailer broadcast on Iran’s state-run English-language channel advertising a program about Ashtiani to be broadcast on Friday. The trailer featured photos of Ashtiani and her son, Sajjad Ghaderzadeh, who has been imprisoned along with Ashtiani’s lawyer, Houtan Kian, and two German journalists after they tried to arrange a meeting with Ashtiani in October. The Guardian newspaper reported that Ghaderzadeh, Kian, and the Germans were all freed. Last month, the head of Iran’s Council on Human Rights said he thought there was “a good chance” Ashtiani’s life could be spared.