Iran dismisses Lula's 'emotional' stoning asylum offer

Iran says the Brazilian president did not have enough information when he offered refuge to an Iranian woman sentenced to death by stoning.

A foreign ministry spokesman said President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was an "emotional" person and that details of the case would be made clear to him.

Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, 43, was sentenced to death for adultery, but her stoning was suspended pending a review. She could still be hanged.

The case has caused international fury.

President Lula offered refuge to Ashtiani during a campaign rally for his party in southern Brazil on Saturday.

Speaking at a news conference in Tehran on Tuesday, Iran's foreign ministry spokesman said Ashtiani had been sentenced in accordance with Iranian law.

"As far as we know, [President Lula] is a very humane and emotional person who probably has not received enough information about the case," Ramin Mehmanparast said.

"What can be done is to let him know about the details of the case of this person who has committed a crime and has been convicted accordingly," he added.

In mid-July, Iranian officials temporarily halted the stoning of Ashtiani pending a judicial review, noting that the punishment was rarely applied and that stoning was not in a draft Islamic penal code currently under consideration in the Iranian parliament.

Iran and Brazil have close ties.

Earlier this year Brazil initiated diplomatic efforts to reach a compromise over Iran's uranium enrichment program.

(Published by BBC - August 3, 2010)