An anti-stoning protest gathers hundreds in Vancouver

VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) - Hundreds of people gathered in Vancouver Saturday afternoon to protest stoning and lobby for the release of Sakineh Ashtiani, the Iranian woman who was sentenced to death on charges of adultery. Over 100 cities participated in the protest globally, staging stoning demonstrations and signing the petitions.

Ashtiani was spared from stoning by a wave of protests that ensued after her case was made public around the world, but the 43-year-old mother of two is still on death row.

Zari Asli who organized the rally in Vancouver says raising awareness about stoning does have its results. "If these supporters all around the world, if they were not there, if there was not this much international support, Sakineh would have be stoned by now."

She says 150 people have been stoned in Iran in the last 30 years.