The United Nations and international human rights groups joined a growing call on Monday urging the Iranian government to call off the impending execution of a 26-year-old woman convicted of murder . Reyhaneh Jabbari was sentenced to death for the 2007 killing of Morteza Abdolali Sarbandi , a former employee of Iran 's Ministry of Intelligence and Security . The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights alleges the killing was an act of self-defense against a rapist and says Jabbari never received a fair trial . In a statement on Monday , the U.N. Office said testimony from `` reliable sources '' indicates Sarbandi hired Jabbari -- then a 19-year old interior designer -- to work on his office . Jabbari stabbed Sarbandi after he sexually assaulted her , the statement said . The United Nations and several international rights groups say Jabbari 's conviction was based on a false confession obtained under intense pressure and threats from Iranian investigators . `` The Iranian authorities should review her case and refer it back to court for a retrial , ensuring that the defendant due process rights guaranteed under both Iranian law and international law , '' said Ahmed Shaheed , the U.N. special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran . In a statement on Sunday , Amnesty International said , `` Sarbandi 's association with the Ministry of Intelligence may have affected the impartiality of the court 's investigation . '' International calls to halt the execution grew louder on Monday after several reports came out that Jabbari would be executed on Tuesday . However , both Jabbari 's lawyer and the spokesman for Iran 's judiciary dismissed the reports , saying no date for the execution had been set . A Facebook page dedicated to saving Jabbari from execution has been created . As of Monday evening , it had more than 7,400 likes . The judiciary also held out the possibility that the family of Sarbandi would forgive the killer and agree to stay the execution , an option available under Iran 's Islamic penal code . `` There was a lot of this type of guessing that suggested that the sentence may not be carried out if the people ( next of kin of the man killed ) agreed , '' said Judiciary spokesman Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei , according to semi-official Mehr News Agency . `` There is still time until the date of execution of the sentence and the plaintiffs may at the last moment agree to clemency . '' Iranian Oscar winner Asghar Farhadi has joined scores of Iranian artists and musicians in calling for a halt to the execution . In an open letter , Farhadi asked the victim 's family to pardon Jabbari . `` If you pardon her , I will call that day the Day of Pardon , '' Farhadi wrote in his letter . Rights groups have criticized the Islamic Republic of Iran for a surge in executions under Hassan Rouhani , in his first year as President . According to the United Nations , Iran has executed at least 170 people this year . In 2013 , Iran executed more people than any other country with the exception of China , the world 's most populous nation . Iran , with almost 81 million people , is ranked 19th . Ex-Marine convicted in Iran , sentenced to 10 years prison . Iranian hostage crisis figure seeks U.N. credentials .
U.N agency , human rights groups rally to the cause of woman awaiting execution . They say she was a victim of sexual assault and killed her husband in self - defense in 2007 . The man who was killed was a member of Iran 's Interior Ministry . Under Iran 's Islamic law , the family of the slain man could agree to delay the execution .