The international hue and cry raised over Iran's decision to stone Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani for the crime of adultery pushed the country into backing off from its preferred mode of killing, but not the execution itself. Hanging was reporting as the expected alternative.

Now, the 43-year-old mother of two still faces execution, and it's not clear what means will be used -- even stoning still seems to be a possibility.

Over 350,000 concerned citizens of the world have signed a "Free Saktineh" petition online, including some high-profile names, such as The Satanic Verses author Salman Rushdie, famous actresses Catherine Zeta-Jones and Gwyneth Paltrow, Brazilian President Fernando Henrique Cardoso, and Sting.

Laws against sex out of wedlock always come down harder on women; they are more likely to be brutally killed for the "crime" than their male partners.

Whether it's death by stoning or hanging, the execution of Ashtiani would be a severe human rights violation. Call upon Iran and international human rights bodies to act swiftly stop her execution.