THE TELEGRAPH: An appeal by Carla Bruni-Sarkozy on behalf of an Iranian woman facing death by stoning for alleged adultery was counterproductive, according to Catherine Deneuve.The spat between one of France's most famous actresses and its first lady came as the Vatican announced it was interceding with Tehran for the life of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, a 43-year-old mother of two.
Miss Deneuve, 66, star of Belle de Jour, a film about a housewife secretly working as a prostitute, said the first lady's intervention allowed Iranian hardliners to seize on her past to taint the world campaign for Mrs Ashtiani's release.Mrs Bruni-Sarkozy signed an open letter in support of Mrs Ashtiani.
That prompted an Iranian newspaper to label her a "marriage wrecking prostitute" last week because of her previous affairs with high-profile celebrities who already had partners.
"When you are a famous person you need to be more cautious when you lend your support to causes – with her past she should have been more careful. It can be a double-edged sword," Miss Deneuve said. >>> Nick Pisa in Rome | Sunday, September 05, 2010
