Amazed and angry!

[Jeroen]

Death by stoning after 99 sweepstakes. If that is culture, or if that is supposed to fit modern day culture, better lock me up. Incredible and no excuse or understanding whatsoever!

TEHRAN, IRAN — The controversial death sentence by stoning for an Iranian woman convicted of adultery will not be implemented for now, said a judicial official on Sunday.

The world outcry over the death sentence has become the latest issue in Iran’s fraught relationship with the international community.

Malek Ajdar Sharifi, the top judicial official in the province where the mother of two was convicted, told the Iranian state news agency that her crimes were “various and very serious” and not limited to adultery, but that the sentence “will not be implemented for the time being.”

He added Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani’s stoning would still take place if the judiciary wanted, despite the “propaganda” by the West.

The United States, Britain and international human rights groups have all urged Tehran not to carry out the sentence.

The first indication that the government had changed its mind came with statement by the Iranian embassy in London that the stoning would not occur.

Ashtiani is currently being held in East Azerbaijan province’s jail.

Human Rights Watch, one of several groups publicizing Ashtiani’s case, said she was first convicted in May 2006 of having an “illicit relationship” with two men following the death of her husband — for which a court in Tabriz, in northwestern Iran, sentenced her to 99 lashes.

But later that year she was also convicted of adultery, despite having retracted a confession which she claims was made under duress.

Stoning was widely imposed in the years following the 1979 Islamic revolution, and even though Iran’s judiciary still regularly hands down such sentences, they are often converted to other punishments.

The last known stoning was carried out in 2007, although the government rarely confirms that such punishments have been meted out.

Under Islamic rulings, a man is usually buried up to his waist, while a woman is buried up to her chest with her hands also buried. Those carrying out the verdict then throw stones until the condemned dies.

Ashtiani’s stoning was approved by the country’s Supreme Court, but the law could allow the judiciary head to order another trial or appeal for a pardon from Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has final say on all state matters.

[Silver Surfer]

Totally agree Jeroen, this truly is barbaric and ridiculous. These kind of things have no space in todays society, irrespective of religion, culture or whatever other excuse the Iranian authorities care to use.

Due to the media hype it may be a shock to find out that the below practice ...

Under Islamic rulings, a man is usually buried up to his waist, while a woman is buried up to her chest with her hands also buried. Those carrying out the verdict then throw stones until the condemned dies.

.....is totally un-Islamic. Islam requires the guilty act to have been witnessed by 4 people. Now when is adultery every witnessed by anyone let alone 4 people!? The reasons behind this law are very deliberate to try to avoid the archaic punishment of women at the hands of overtly patriarchal males.

The only times this punishment was ever meted out at the time of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was when Biblical law was exercised on a Jewish couple guilty of adultery who were punished according to Biblical law - Mentioned in the Bible St. John Chapter 8, V:4-5:

"...they say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned".

Why Iran and certain other so called 'Islamic' states (the hardline Saudi and Pakistan come to mind) choose to follow this Mosaic/biblical teaching is as bizarre as it is ridiculous. It pains me to my core to see that the religion I follow, the name of which literally means Peace, is high-jacked by extremists and nutters (even as Hitler and the Crusaders appropriated christianity). Why the media chooses to make up messages such as the above (stoning injucnctions) is even more dumbfounding and perpetuates the cycle of misunderstanding and ignorance.

As ever the voices of the moderate are drowned out by the blood curdling cries of the extremists and the sensationalist headlines of the papers.

[NikkieRoxxx]

Why Iran and certain other so called 'Islamic' states (the hardline Saudi and Pakistan come to mind) choose to follow this Mosaic/biblical teaching is as bizarre as it is ridiculous. It pains me to my core to see that the religion I follow, the name of which literally means Peace, is high-jacked by extremists and nutters (even as Hitler and the Crusaders appropriated christianity). Why the media chooses to make up messages such as the above (stoning injucnctions) is even more dumbfounding and perpetuates the cycle of misunderstanding and ignorance.

There are always bad appels in every basket!...

What the media seems to be forgetting about Iran, is that is hosts the largest population of Jews in the MIddle-East and they have it good there and get along very well with their muslim fellow citizens. Israel wanted to offer something like 10 000$ to every Jew that would immigrate to Israel from Iran, they replied with "our identity is not for sale, Iran doesn't hate Jews, it hates zionism!"

'nique

[nas80]

well i cant see the problem.

Stops couples having the temptation to cheat on each other and breaking up families tbh.

[Jeroen]

Well perhaps you should take some reading lessons first. The husband died before that...