US first lady Michelle Obama, left, and France's first lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy wave to onlookers, after they visited Strasbourg Cathedral during the programme for the spouses of NATO leaders, in Strasbourg, France, Saturday, April 4, 2009. The leaders were attending a summit marking the 60th anniversary of NATO. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - Iran's hardline media have called French First Lady Carla Bruni a “prostitute” after she expressed strong support for an Iranian woman facing death by stoning for adultery.

The Monday report by the state news website comes two days after the hardline Kayhan newspaper also described the wife of French President Nicolas Sarkozy as a “prostitute.”

Bruni’s condemnation of the stoning sentence comes after about 300 people from rights organizations demonstrated in Paris to urge Iran to lift its death sentence against Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani.

The stoning sentence against Ashtiani, a 43-year-old mother of two, has been halted after international protests but she could still face execution by hanging.
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