Lawyer in Iranian stoning case "safe" in Norway (Roundup)

Aug 8, 2010, 17:23 GMT

Oslo - Iranian lawyer Mohammad Mostafaei, who has defended a woman sentenced to death by stoning in Iran, on Sunday said he was 'safe' in Norway after fleeing from persecution in Iran.

One of Mostafaei's clients is Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, who has been convicted of adultery and murdering her husband and sentenced to be stoned to death.

The sentence against Mohammadi Ashtiani, 43, provoked an international outcry, with several Western countries and human rights organizations calling on Iran to revise it.

Mostafaei Sunday said he did not believe his client would be harmed physically due to the international attention her fate has drawn.

'If they harm her, they (the Iranian authorities) will lose what little credibility they have,' he told a news conference organized by the Oslo-based Foreign Press Association.

Mostafaei, who has drawn the wrath of Iranian authorities also for defending juvenile offenders and political prisoners, recounted how he had fled from Iran to Turkey via car, on horseback and also on foot.

He said, in Turkey he applied for asylum via the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and arrived in Norway on Saturday, where he had been granted a year-long visa in 2009.

Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Store said he was 'very pleased' that Mostafaei was 'safe in Norway' and praised Turkey and the UNHCR 'for the part they played in bringing Mr Mostafaei to safety.'

Mostafaei said his wife, who has been held in custody in Iran for 14 days had also been released.

'Last night I slept well for the first time in two weeks,' Mostafaei said.

In Norway he said he planned to continue his human rights work, perhaps write a book and study.

Iran's judiciary said Mohammadi Ashtiani was not only convicted of adultery but also of killing her husband in 2006.

Iran recently rejected an offer by Brazil to give her asylum.

For the stoning, men are buried up to their waist and women up to their necks. If they manage to free themselves during the stoning they are allowed to go free.