Afghanistan woman stoned to death

A woman has been stoned to death in Afghanistan, reportedly for committing adultery.

The killing is said to have taken place in the Urgu district of north-eastern Badakhshan province.

A local Afghan government official confirmed the death, and said the government would investigate the case.

The Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission said the woman had been sentenced to death by a decree from the local religious scholar.

Under Afghan law, cases such as this should go through the local courts.

A reporter for the BBC Pashto service in Afghanistan said the woman's husband recently returned from Iran after five years away.

The wife asked for a separation on the grounds that her husband could not support her.

However, he said she was having improper relations with another man.

It is not known if the couple had any children.

Correspondents say this is the second time a woman has been stoned to death since the ousting of the Taleban in 2001.

Both events happened in the same area.

During the Taleban's rule, women were regularly stoned to death for adultery.