Tehran  - A young woman accused of killing an 80-year-old man who allegedly held her prisoner in his home may be executed within days.

Fakhteh Samadi, a former law student, had to end her studies after her marriage failed. She was working as a carer for an 80-year-old man who allegedly held her captive and tried to rape her several times.

The woman claims to have suffered from deep depression and was deprived of medicines prescribed by her 'jailer'.

After the umpteenth attempt to rape her, she hit his head with a metal object killing him.

According to medical experts who visited her in prison, Fakhteh was in a state of panic and reacted unconsciously.

The court , without taking account of medical or legal opinion, condemned Fakhteh to death.

According to the woman's lawyer, Ali Najaftavana, Fakhteh has been told that her execution is imminent.

The case of Fakhteh is the subject of a documentary by Iranian director Mahvash Sheikholeslami.

In 2006 Iran carried out the second highest number of death sentences, most of them by hanging. It was surpassed only by China.

According to recent figures released by the International Coalition Against the Death Penalty, 265 executions took place in Iran between October 2006 and the end of September 2007.
Source: AKI
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