Egyptian protests heighten fears of Iran detainee's wife

(CNN) -- The wife of an Iranian man sentenced to death for allegedly operating adult internet sites said she fears the situation in Egypt may mean her husband will be executed at any moment.

"They want to set an example to people," said Fatima Eftekhari in a telephone interview with CNN on Thursday as she prepared to attend a human rights rally in Ottawa, Ontario.

"It's freedom, freedom of speech, and the internet provides that. My husband's charges were internet-related charges so they want an example for Iranian people ... to spread fear among the people," said Eftekhari.

Her husband, Saeed Malekpour, has been sentenced to die by hanging for allegedly operating porn websites. The 35-year-old freelance software developer, a Canadian permanent resident, was arrested in October 2008 as he returned to Iran to visit an ailing family member.

"All that he has done is he wrote a program. And that program, without his knowledge, was used in this website ... and now they are exaggerating this thing with his administration of an adult website," said Eftekhari. She added that even if he were guilty as charged, there is no law on Iranian books that indicates an internet-related charge can be punishable by death.

Human rights groups around the world believe Iran has stepped up its rate of executions in recent months. In an open letter to Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Amnesty International Canada encouraged him to take up Malekpour's case with Iranian officials.

In its letter, Amnesty International wrote: "The circumstances in this case have become of such urgent concern that we are now calling on you to become involved personally. The timing is very worrying. As you are likely aware the rate of executions in Iran has increased dramatically over the past two months, double what it has been in recent years. Executions have in fact averaged approximately two per day since early December."

In particular, Amnesty International is asking the Canadian government to demand that Iran conduct a prompt impartial investigation into allegations that Malekpour has made in writing, detailing the torture he says he has experienced in detention. Malekpour also says that the confession he made was the result of torture.

It is questionable whether a Canadian intervention would have any influence with the Iranian regime. Relations between the two countries have been strained for years. Complicating matters, Malekpour is not a Canadian citizen.

Nonetheless, Eftekhari said she believes that a forceful protest from the prime minister would save her husband's life.

"Stephen Harper, bring Saeed home and the Canadian government, raise your voice louder," pleaded Eftekhari.

She said she last spoke with her husband on Sunday in a brief phone conversation. He remains in solitary confinement and she described him as frustrated and anxious. Eftekhari said she lives in fear that she will awake one morning and find out the Iranian government has executed her husband even before his case can be heard before the Supreme Court in Iran.