Posted on 11/15/2006 11:36:15 PM PST by MadIvan
TEHRAN'S hardline Islamic regime is preparing to publicly hang 11 Iranian Arabs convicted of "enmity with God" for their alleged involvement in a bombing campaign in which over 20 were killed last year, after what rights activists say were summary, secret trials.
The executions are due to take place by Monday, according to Iranian media reports. The intention apparently is to disperse the hangings in several cities with largely Arab populations in order to spread fear, activists say. Campaigners insist the men are innocent and paying the price for merely hailing from the disadvantaged Arab minority.
Their heavily edited "confessions" were shown on television on Monday night after months of incarceration in which they were tortured and their families threatened, the British Ahwazi Friendship Society said.
The pending executions are raising a storm of protest from British MPs. The human rights campaigner, Peter Tatchell, backed by Labour MP Chris Bryant and Tory MP Michael Gove, is urging the government to petition Iran to commute the executions.
The sentences were imposed after swift trials behind closed doors which human-rights groups say did not meet international standards.
Regards, Ivan
Ping!
Bloody barbarians.
And they said the Shah was tough. Thank you, Jimmy Carter.
Ditto.
Any minute now, Koffi will be spewing his indignation...
From the Scotsman's comments:
They have openly announced that, they will bring 11 Hydraulic Cranes, put the noos round the victim's neck and lift him up and wait for him to die.
Lovely.
So many executions such as the one mentioned here in the last 27 yrs.....
If anyone really cares about human rights there, then they should stop their big business & other deals with the mullah regime.
The UN condemns the USA's death policy, but if some other country has a public multiple execution set up by a kangaroo court , then that is within that nations sovereign right.
On the other hand, I don't like Arab bombers either.
"On the other hand, I don't like Arab bombers either."
You might have something there. FR usually gets a lot of advocates of this type of justice - especially when terrorists receive much lighter sentences. I think (but don't agree with) the Iranians are doing what a lot of people (look up lynch mobs) would like to do if they could.
Hanging as a quick means of death is one thing. The cranes are pure spectacle. But you have to wonder, who is the actual intended audience?
Hanging is only quick if the neck is broken in the drop. This does not sound likely to happen.
Hanging with a trap door is a quick means of death because it is intended to quickly break the neck. The method to be used in Iran promises to be a slow strangulation.
"The cranes are pure spectacle. But you have to wonder, who is the actual intended audience?"
I think the pure spectacle as deterrance. 200+ years ago this thing was done throughout Europe. The body slowly being killed in mid air is very simple and exemplary to those tempted to misbehave. I read that hanging actually originated in Persia (now known as Iran). Problem was, rather than deterring, this thing turned out to be very popular entertainment.
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