(CNN) -- Iranian authorities have arrested the wife and a brother of a lawyer who is defending a woman facing imprisonment and possible execution by stoning, a human rights activist said Monday.
Mina Ahadi, chairwoman of the International Committee Against Stoning, said the wife and brother are being held in Evin Prison and police have closed the Tehran office of lawyer Mohammad Mostafaei. The location of the lawyer himself remains unknown, Ahadi said.
Sakineh Mohammadie Ashtiani was convicted of adultery in 2006 and was originally sentenced to death by stoning, but the sentence was put on hold earlier this month after an international outcry.
Protestors rallied worldwide Saturday in support of her, pushing for her release.
Earlier this month, Mostafaei told CNN that his client confessed to the crime after being subjected to 99 lashes. She later recanted the confession and has denied wrongdoing, he said.
CNN
