Iran signalled today that it was likely to reject the Brazilian president's offer to give refuge to an Iranian woman convicted of adultery and sentenced to death by stoning.
The case of 43-year-old Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani triggered an international outcry that prompted Iran to at least temporarily withdraw the stoning sentence. Ashtiani, who has two children, could still be hanged.
Ramin Mehmanparast, a foreign ministry spokesman, said: "A far as we know, [the Brazilian president, Luiz Inácio Lula] Da Silva is a very humane and emotional person who probably has not received enough information about the case." Further information would be provided to the president to clarify the situation about "an individual who is a convicted offender", he added. Iran says Ashtiani has also been convicted of murder.
The outcry over the death sentence is one of the latest thorns in Iran's relationship with the international community, as the US, Britain and international human rights groups have urged Tehran to stay the execution.
Also see: EQUAL RIGHTS NOW - ORGANISATION AGAINST WOMEN'S DISCRIMINATION IN IRAN