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.
According to an independent legal analysis of the country's penal code, Iranian judges are required to issue these mandatory sentences. Rarely, IPS sources inside Iran said, are these sentences carried out.
One lawyer, who asked not to be named, told IPS that the head of the judiciary, Ayatollah Shahroudi, frequently has been able to postpone executions. He does not, however, have the authority to commute death sentences to life imprisonment.
In addition to the seven women mentioned in the latest report, Amnesty earlier issued reports of two other Iranians also allegedly at risk of being stoned.
According to Amnesty, Parisa A. received her execution sentence while working as a prostitute in the city of Shiraz. She claims she had been forced into prostitution by her husband due to her family's poverty. Her sentence was upheld by a branch of the Supreme Court in November 2005. Her case is under review by the high court.
Iran E., an Ahwazi Arab from the Bakhtiari clan, was sentenced to be stoned for adultery. Her verdict was upheld by the Supreme Court in April.
Khayrieh V., another Ahwazi Arab, was reportedly subjected to domestic violence by her husband when she allegedly began an affair with one of his relatives, who then murdered her husband, the Amnesty report said. She has denied any involvement in the murder but has admitted to adultery.
The Supreme Court has upheld her sentence and the case now apparently has been sent to the Head of the Judiciary for permission to be implemented. Amnesty quoted her as saying, "I am ready to be hanged, but they should not stone me. They could strangle you and you would die, but it is very difficult to have stones hitting you in the head."
2007-12-07 09:54:43 · 10 answers · asked by foxy_blue00 3 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
I think that's terrible. Some of these people really need to get their heads checked out. STONING to DEATH just for adultery? I admit it isn't a great way to behave, but some of those women seem like they had no choice. I don't think the death penalty should exist at the best of times, but at least I can see where people are coming from in that respect. I can't see who couuld think it right to stone people to death.
2007-12-07 10:12:22 · answer #1 · answered by BellaStarlight 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
First of all the Iranian people wanted an Islamic government they were so strongly for it they through over the last government and the women wanted it too. Did you ever see the event it had just as many woman in the streets as men.
Let them choose there government and how they want to do things. If you consider it barbaric then you must then say that about God since it was ok in the old testament too.
We need to focus on the issues and women's rights in America instead of letting demonizing propaganda fool us into anger and hatred for Islamic countries.
They are using these storied to make you mad and not protest the future wars they have planned against the Middle East.
If you think the news cares ask them why they did not report the 12 women who died this month in America from domestic violence in National headline.
If it is the government that's doing it what about our female soldiers who can't even use military bathrooms without being raped. Some have stopped drinking and died from dehydration.
2007-12-07 18:10:02 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Since this is an international treaty that is being violated, the best thing for Americans to do would petition the United States to get the UN to bring suit against the country in the ICC or ICJ.
2007-12-07 18:08:11 · answer #3 · answered by sweetbearsg2003 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
It's not our battle. We don't need to continue to dig a deeper hole, internationally. We can't even win a war. What makes anyone think we can change these countries of their barbaric ways? Energies & resources are better spent when we get behind something we can make a difference in. We have enough isssues within our own country to change and improve. I vote that we try to fix our own country first. How many people are still without homes and jobs due to Katrina? How many homeless people are there in the US? How many abused & starving animals are there in the US? Wow, we could go on for days. Fix the US first.
2007-12-07 18:03:42 · answer #4 · answered by chelseiann 6 · 4⤊ 2⤋
I understand your caring for people you dont know. However I think we need to start worrying about our own country and not someone elses. Do we really need to be the police of the world? Shouldn't someone else in the world perhaps closer to Iran do something say a country in Europe? I think we need to get back to helping our own and quit worrying about others.
2007-12-07 18:05:26 · answer #5 · answered by Bill W 3 · 3⤊ 2⤋
Would I have the same right to come into your home and tell you how to run your life, I don't think so, if they don't like where they live let them move.
2007-12-08 13:52:51 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
nice place to blog, lol.
you should post this on all those "pull out now" sites that think extremists aren't a threat.
2007-12-07 18:04:01 · answer #7 · answered by mockingbird 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
And muslims wonder why they are looked at with contempt.
America, even with all of it's problems, remains superior to all muslim nations
2007-12-07 17:59:44 · answer #8 · answered by kill_republicans_for_sport 1 · 8⤊ 1⤋
let he who has no sin cast the first stone.
2007-12-07 18:05:08 · answer #9 · answered by RedHand 2 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Jesus come quickly !!!
2007-12-07 18:09:44 · answer #10 · answered by lonewolf 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋