Iran blasted for hanging of girl in chastity case

Chicago Sun Times: A leading human rights group on Tuesday  denounced Iran’s reported public execution of a teen girl in a controversial chastity case.
The judge in the case said he was punishing the 16-year-old for her “sharp tongue,” according to the Iran Focus Web site. Chicago Sun Times

A leading human rights group on Tuesday denounced Iran’s reported public execution of a teen girl in a controversial chastity case.

The judge in the case said he was punishing the 16-year-old for her “sharp tongue,” according to the Iran Focus Web site.

Ateqeh Rajabi was reportedly hanged on a street in downtown Neka, Iran, on Aug. 15, and her case has stirred outrage.

The human rights group, Amnesty International, said it “is alarmed that this execution was carried out despite reports that Ateqeh Rajabi was not believed to be mentally competent, and that she reportedly did not have access to a lawyer at any stage.”

The facts of the case are hazy. But Amnesty, quoting a report on the Peyk-e Iran site, said Rajabi was sentenced to death for “acts incompatible with chastity.”

The other defendant in the chastity case, an unnamed man, was reportedly sentenced to 100 lashes.