Italian MPs said on Wednesday that Britain had agreed to hold off on deporting an Iranian lesbian whom human rights' campaigners say will be stoned to death if she is sent back to Iran.
Members of the Green party, which is part of Italy's centre-left government, met British Ambassador to Rome Edward Chaplin to discuss the case of Pegah Emambakhsh.
They said afterwards that Chaplin had assured them there was "no imminent risk" of Emambakhsh being deported.
"Chaplin agreed to tell London of our concerns. He explained that a final decision on the case had not yet been taken," Green House Whip Angelo Bonelli said.
The Green party said pressure from Italian lawmakers and campaigners were largely to thank for the softer stance adopted by the British government.
On Monday, some 50 campaigners took part in a protest outside the British Embassy on Emambakhsh's behalf while Rome Mayor Walter Veltroni said Rome was willing to offer her asylum.
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 is punishable by severe lashings and even death.
Emambakhsh fled to Britain, where she applied for asylum two years ago.
However, her application was turned down and she was arrested by the British authorities on August 13.
Since then, Britain has twice been set to eject her but agreed to postponements at the last minute to allow further examination of the case.
In the meantime, concern has been mounting for Emambakhsh's lover, whom campaigners say has been arrested, tortured and sentenced to death by stoning.
Emambakhsh's father is also reported to have been tortured by Iranian police wanting to know the whereabouts of his daughter.
Veltroni said on Monday that "the international community must do everything possible to avoid Pegah befalling a fate which is cruel and inconceivable for anyone who believes in democracy and human rights".
