View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

Former Press TV journalists stand up for Ashtiani

By Press Gazette reporters

A group of journalists formerly employed by Press TV, the controversial news network controlled by the Iranian government, have written a letter to The Times calling for the release of a woman sentenced to death for adultery.

Seven journalists whop have worked for Press TV, including Andrew Gilligan and Nick Ferrari, have taken up the case of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani who was condemned to death by stoning in Iran for after being found guilty of an “illicit relationship” with two men.

The letter, which appeared in the Times on 12 August, stated: “Sir, We are journalists who worked for Press TV, Iran’s English-language news channel.

“We support the peoples of Iran and their right to determine the country’s future, free of foreign pressure or intervention.

“However, we are distressed by the uncertainty over the fate of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, sentenced to death for alleged adultery.

“We believe that, almost certainly, her conviction failed to meet Iran’s Islamic evidential requirements.

“We also regret the intimidatory acts committed against Ms Ashtiani’s lawyer and his family (report, Aug 9).

Content from our partners
MHP Group's 30 To Watch awards for young journalists open for entries
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition
Publishing on the open web is broken, how generative AI could help fix it

“We appeal to Chief Justice Sadeq Larijani to order the rapid release of Ms Ashtiani, who has already served five years in prison and received 99 lashes.

“We also ask him to protect defence lawyers from state harassment and to curb the excesses of those prosecutors who either ignore or flagrantly abuse basic principles of Islamic law.”

The letter was signed by Martin Short, Fiona O’Cleirigh, Michael Dobbs, Tim Llewellyn, Mark Watts, Andrew Gilligan and Nick Ferrari.

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly does of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network