Italian MPs and gay rights' groups stepped up a campaign on Monday to save an Iranian woman being held in Britain whom they say will be stoned to death if she is deported by the British government.
Some 50 campaigners took part in a protest outside the British Embassy in Rome while Environment Minister and Green party chief Alfonso Pecoraro Scanio - who is openly bisexual - said he would meet with British Ambassador Edward Chaplin on Tuesday to discuss the case of Pegah Emambakhsh.
Emambakhsh was arrested by the British authorities on August 13.
She had been due to be deported to Tehran on August 16 but her ejection was delayed to allow for further representations.
A fresh deportation date was set for Tuesday but Italian officials said on Monday that another postponement had been obtained.
Emambakhsh, who is married with two children, is believed to have had a relationship with a younger woman in Iran.
In the Muslim state, homosexuality is forbidden and punishable by death.
Emambakhsh fled to Britain, where she applied for asylum two years ago.
Concern was also mounting for Emambakhsh's lover, whom campaigners said had been arrested, tortured and sentenced to death by stoning.
Italian campaigners and politicians have urged the centre-left government to offer Emambakhsh asylum in Italy if Britain pushes ahead with its decision to deport her.
