Iranian Murderer To Be Thrown Off Cliff In A Sack

Ananova ^ | 7-19-2002

[blam]

Iranian murderer to be thrown off cliff in a sack

An Iranian murderer is to be executed by being thrown off a cliff in a sack.

An Iranian newspaper says if the man from the north-western city of Mashhad survives, he will be hanged.

The carpenter was convicted of raping and killing his 16-year-old nephew.

The Daily Express says his nephew worked as an assistant at his shop.

The man has 20 days to appeal against his sentence.

Story filed: 07:27 Friday 19th July 2002

[blam]

They got something right.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

If he survives the hanging, he will be shot.
If he survives the shooting, he will be stoned.
If he survives the stoning [fill in the blanks]

[capt. norm]

Boy, these people sure are civilized.

[marktuoni]

Aren't we some to judge....have you read any of the suggestions on the threads regarding the girl in California who was raped and killed? I think being thrown off a cliff in a sack is a fairly moderate punishment compared to those suggested by many (myself included) for the monster who killed that poor little girl.

One thing can be said for conservative Muslim countries...they know how to punish their criminals!

[Guillermo]

The thing is...who would THINK of this method of execution??

[Behind Enemy Lines]

Well, call me uncivilized, but I have no problems with a convicted murderer/rapist coming to a grisly end. Iran is a backward country, but in this particular instance their solution seems a lot more enlightened than spending $30K a year to feed & house this guy while providing him with cable TV, a weight room, and conjugal visits.

[marktuoni]

Someone with an appropriate sense of justice if you ask me!

[governsleastgovernsbest]

This if far from the harshest form of execution. According to the Talmud, certain types of criminals were to be executed by burning. However, that did not mean burning at the stake. This is the precise method prescribed [not a joke]:

The condemned is forced to stand in a pile of excrement [to immobilize his feet].

Then, a silk scarf was to be wrapped around his neck and pulled from either end, forcing him to open his mouth.

Once the mouth was open, a load of molten lead is poured down his throat.

I repeat, this is not a joke. However, although the Bible calls for the death penalty for many crimes, the Talmud made clear that it was to be applied very sparingly.

[Guillermo]

I'm not to sure.

I would think this is what the Founders were thinking of when they banned "cruel and unusual" punishment.

I support the 8th.

Amendment VIII

Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

[FITZ]

Yes --nothing wrong with this.

[marktuoni]

I guess somewhere between being thrown off a cliff in a sack and being given cable television, a weight room and three square meals a day is probably where the founders were in their thinking.

I personally don't think either extreme is any more aggregious than the other. I just tend to lean more toward your definition of cruel and unusual, I suppose.

"Cruel and unusual" is and was during the writing of the amendment likely intentionally vague.

[mc5cents]

"Cruel and unusual" is and was during the writing of the amendment likely intentionally vague.

And does it have to be Cruel AND Unusual? For instance, I believe that while throwing someone off a cliff is unusual, it is not that cruel. However, forcing hot lead down someone's throat meets both criteria I would think. :o)

[crystalk]

This reference to a "cliff" seems so appropriate for where poor Samantha was found: have you ever seen that sudden dropoff with Lake Elsinore right straight down under you there, it is really a dramatic place. No doubt that is why the hang gliders were there.

[marktuoni]

Perhaps throwing more child molesters off of cliffs, people who molest children would be that much more rare and unusual!

[Pagey]

It's too bad they don't say how high the cliff is, and will he be bound and blindfolded---these are the things I ponder.

[mikeIII]

The man has 20 days to appeal against his sentence.

P.S. That is if he survives the fall from cliff.