Posted on 10/09/2006 6:24:00 PM PDT by Free ThinkerNY
Iran's Crimes Against Humanity
By Alison Langley
Inter Press Service News Agency | October 9, 2006
BERLIN, Sep 29 (IPS) - Amnesty International has issued an urgent appeal calling on its members to write letters to the Republic of Iran asking them not to stone seven women.
Nearly all of the women have been sentenced to die by stoning for adultery. Officially Iran had placed a moratorium on the cruel and painful practise in 2002, but Amnesty claims sentencing continues. The group has received credible reports that two people were stoned to death in May.
The United Nations Human Rights Committee has ruled that treating adultery and fornication as criminal offences does not comply with international human rights standards.
"The sentence of execution by stoning for adultery breaches Iran's commitment under article 6(2) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights that death sentences will be imposed ‘only for the most serious crimes'," Amnesty wrote in its appeal.
Under Shari'a law, a prisoner is buried up to her breast, her hands restrained. Rules also specify the size of the stones which can be thrown so that death is painful and not imminent. Both men and women can be sentenced to die by stoning. In practise, however, an overwhelming number of women receive that penalty.
"It's high time this brutal practise ends. Not only are people deprived of their right to life by the state but they are tortured in the process," Nicole Choueiry, Amnesty's Middle East press officer, told IPS.
"Iran should review its legislation as a matter of urgency to bring it into line with international human rights standards," she added.
(Excerpt) Read more at frontpagemag.com ...
Not since Christ came on the scene and advised, "Let him who is without sin cast the first stone."
Blah, blah, blah. Why do you think our constitution has a clause about cruel and unusual punishment? I don't see how knowledge that being born a woman, and knowing that stoning awaits you should it even be suspected that you committed adultery, makes the punishment of stoning acceptable.
In a totally male-dominated society, women are viewed as property, and men pretty much do as they please without any real restriction. The barbarity of stoning is a form of entertainment, and a vehicle to maintain dominance. So a women need not have actually committed adultery, just be accused. The laws of muslims allow punishment for crimes that are merely suspected.
I've been married 3 times, and none of them were virgins, and if I have to call them adulterers to join your religion, I would just as soon be an atheist.
It's nice to see you like variety.
Thank you for restating the instructive Bible passage where Jesus faces the accusers of the woman taken in adultery.
Adultery is a crime against God and one*s spouse.
Surely you*re not suggesting that it*s understandable that Iran continues this barbaric practice? You*re joking, right? Or you*re a plant on this board to make conservative Christians look bad?
So it's okay for you if they stone a 13-year old girl because she was raped by her 15-year old brother? By their definition, that's adultery, on her part, not his.
I guess that's okay for you, since, after all, they're just following their religion!
You're welcome.
ConservativeMind sounds more like an Iman then a Christian.
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