Iranian official slams America for planned execution of Virginia woman with borderline MR diagnosis

From Press TV in Iran:

A top Iranian lawmaker lashes out at the US over the death sentence of an American woman with borderline mental retardation, saying the US is the symbol of human rights violation.

Teresa Lewis (pictured), pleaded guilty to her part in the slayings of her husband and son-in-law, is scheduled to be executed by lethal injection in the US State of Virginia on September 23.

The 41-year-old Lewis was sentenced to death in 2002. However, lawyers believe that the grandmother was manipulated into committing the crimes by a dominant male co-defendant.

Head of the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission of the Iranian Parliament (Majlis) Alaeddin Boroujerdi voiced concern over the verdict and said the United States has dual policies.

"This is not the first time that the US which claims to defend human rights is clearly violating human rights," he said.

The Iranian lawmaker added that lack of the US government's commitment to international laws has led to the issuance of the death sentence for a woman who suffers from mental retardation.

Boroujerdi said all countries make a distinction between people in good health conditions and those diagnosed with mental disorders, adding it is regretful that the US does not act this way.

The United States is among the countries with the highest number of executions. Only in 2009, 52 people were condemned to death.