February 6, 2005 - (Reuters) The United Nations on Sunday painted a damning portrait of women's rights in Iran, saying they had insufficient right of appeal against violence and were being sentenced to death on flimsy evidence. Drawing upon her own status as a Muslim woman, Yakin Erturk, U.N. Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women, summed up with a cautionary note from the Koran.

"It will be asked from the girls who were buried alive: 'For what sin were we murdered?"' she said, quoting from the section of Islam's holy book entitled al-Takwir.

Yakin said in too many cases the tables were turned against women who filed suits, particularly after domestic violence.

"Those seeking redress are condemned as the guilty ones," she told a news conference at the end of a visit to Iran.

Evidence from an Iranian woman is worth half that of a man.

Erturk added women who had been raped faced numerous obstacles in getting their cases fairly heard.

"Women who defend themselves from violence are being sentenced to death," she said.

Iran's Supreme Court last July revoked a death sentence against Afsaneh Norouzi, who stabbed to death an intelligence officer she said tried to rape her.

"There are reports of trafficking women and girls, particularly to Gulf countries," she continued.

Her findings recommending judicial reforms and the abolition of the death penalty will be presented to a U.N. commission on human rights.

However, Yakin's sharp criticisms drew some fire.

One reporter pointed out that although Iran is criticized for sentencing women to death by stoning, the sentence has not been carried out in recent years.

Although often condemned for its strict dress codes which demand women cover their hair and disguise the shape of their bodies, Iran has more professional opportunities for women than many of its neighbors.

Erturk welcomed Iranian statistics that said 62 percent of university students were now women and hoped this could translate into a broader role in society at large.

From: http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=7549526