Sharia law... religion gone wrong.

[russell jones]

Check out this article...

 

BBC NEWS

Execution of a teenage girl

A television documentary team has pieced together details surrounding the case of a 16-year-old girl, executed two years ago in Iran.

 

On 15 August, 2004, Atefah Sahaaleh was hanged in a public square in the Iranian city of Neka.

 

Her death sentence was imposed for "crimes against chastity".

 

The state-run newspaper accused her of adultery and described her as 22 years old.

 

But she was not married - and she was just 16.

 

Sharia Law

 

In terms of the number of people executed by the state in 2004, Iran is estimated to be second only to China.

 

In the year of Atefah's death, at least 159 people were executed in accordance with the Islamic law of the country, based on the Sharia code.

 

Since the revolution, Sharia law has been Iran's highest legal authority.

 

Alongside murder and drug smuggling, sex outside marriage is also a capital crime.

 

As a signatory of the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights, Iran has promised not to execute anyone under the age of 18.

 

But the clerical courts do not answer to parliament. They abide by their religious supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, making it virtually impossible for human rights campaigners to call them to account.

 

Code of behaviour

 

At the time of Atefah's execution in Neka, journalist Asieh Amini heard rumours the girl was just 16 years old and so began to ask questions.

 

"When I met with the family," says Asieh, "they showed me a copy of her birth certificate, and a copy of her death certificate. Both of them show she was born in 1988. This gave me legitimate grounds to investigate the case."

 

So why was such a young girl executed? And how could she have been accused of adultery when she was not even married?

 

Disturbed by the death of her mother when she was only four or five years old, and her distraught father's subsequent drug addiction, Atefah had a difficult childhood.

 

She was also left to care for her elderly grandparents, but they are said to have shown her no affection.

 

In a town like Neka, heavily under the control of religious authorities, Atefah - often seen wandering around on her own - was conspicuous.

 

It was just a matter of time before she came to the attention of the "moral police", a branch of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard, whose job it is to enforce the Islamic code of behaviour on Iran's streets.

 

Secret relationship

 

Being stopped or arrested by the moral police is a fact of life for many Iranian teenagers.

 

Previously arrested for attending a party and being alone in a car with a boy, Atefah received her first sentence for "crimes against chastity" when she was just 13.

 

Although the exact nature of the crime is unknown, she spent a short time in prison and received 100 lashes.

 

Atefah was soon caught in a downward spiral of arrest and abuse

 

When she returned to her home town, she told those close to her that lashes were not the only things she had to endure in prison. She described abuse by the moral police guards.

 

Soon after her release, Atefah became involved in an abusive relationship with a man three times her age.

 

Former revolutionary guard, 51-year-old Ali Darabi - a married man with children - raped her several times.

 

She kept the relationship a secret from both her family and the authorities.

 

Atefah was soon caught in a downward spiral of arrest and abuse.

 

Local petition

 

Circumstances surrounding Atefah's fourth and final arrest were unusual.

 

The moral police said the locals had submitted a petition, describing her as a "source of immorality" and a "terrible influence on local schoolgirls".

 

But there were no signatures on the petition - only those of the arresting guards.

 

Men's word is accepted much more clearly and much more easily than women

Mohammad Hoshi,

Iranian lawyer and exile

 

Three days after her arrest, Atefah was in a court and tried under Sharia law.

 

The judge was the powerful Haji Rezai, head of the judiciary in Neka.

 

No court transcript is available from Atefah's trial, but it is known that for the first time, Atefah confessed to the secret of her sexual abuse by Ali Darabi.

 

However, the age of sexual consent for girls under Sharia law is nine, and furthermore, rape is very hard to prove in an Iranian court.

 

"Men's word is accepted much more clearly and much more easily than women," according to Iranian lawyer and exile Mohammad Hoshi.

 

"They can say: 'You know she encouraged me' or 'She didn't wear proper dress'."

 

Court of appeal

 

She was my love, my heart... I did everything for her, everything I could

Atefah's father

 

When Atefah realised her case was hopeless, she shouted back at the judge and threw off her veil in protest.

 

It was a fatal outburst.

 

She was sentenced to execution by hanging, while Darabi got just 95 lashes.

 

Shortly before the execution, but unbeknown to her family, documents that went to the Supreme Court of Appeal described Atefah as 22.

 

"Neither the judge nor even Atefah's court appointed lawyer did anything to find out her true age," says her father.

 

And a witness claims: "The judge just looked at her body, because of the developed physique... and declared her as 22."

 

Judge Haji Rezai took Atefah's documents to the Supreme Court himself.

 

And at six o'clock on the morning of her execution he put the noose around her neck, before she was hoisted on a crane to her death.

 

Pain and death

 

During the making of the documentary about Atefah's death the production team telephoned Judge Haji Rezai to ask him about the case, but he refused to comment.

 

The human rights organisation Amnesty International says it is concerned that executions are becoming more common again under President Mahmoud Ahmedinajad, who advocates a return to the pure values of the revolution.

 

The judiciary have never admitted there was any mishandling of Atefah's case.

 

For Atefah's father the pain of her death remains raw. "She was my love, my heart... I did everything for her, everything I could," he says.

 

He did not get the chance to say goodbye.

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/5217424.stm

[the.crooked]

i think its interesting that in 25 viewings, no one has touched this article.

[CALIgula]

i think its interesting how the iranian government punishes underage girls for crimes against chastity by lashes and execution......then turns around and sells the same 9, 10, 11 year old girls into prostitution and the sex slave business in countries such as Saudi Arabia..

[Larry Pubes]

i think it's interesting that the other night i found a 4 inch straight blond hair growing out of my temple.

[ASER1NE]

I think its a fact that the laws in our country are not the same as in other countries.

[Dawood]

it's also interesting that people refer to the Iranian Govt. as "Islamic"

[russell jones]

What would you call them Dawood?

[CALIgula]

What would you call them Dawood?

 

 

i think Dawood wouldnt call the government "Islamic" cause they are Shiites.....and i think Dawood doesn't consider them real muslims......am i right??....do i get a cookie?

[russell jones]

I like cookies! I got some chocolate chip right here.

[HardyHarHar]

 

The moral police said the locals had submitted a petition, describing her as a "source of immorality" and a "terrible influence on local schoolgirls".

 

But there were no signatures on the petition - only those of the arresting guards.

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/5217424.stm

 

It's so sad. The moral police arrest women for improper hijab too. Seems it's always one step forward, two steps back.

[HardyHarHar]

it's also interesting that people refer to the Iranian Govt. as "Islamic"

 

I find that funny too, because obviously the religion, Islam, is NOT about misogyny. The Iranian Government likes to see themselves as "Islamic," that was the whole point of the revolution. Anyway, you're right it seems like a great big lie, and what they do over there sucks, and it must suck to be constantly reminded that the government is "Islamic." c'est la vie.

[HardyHarHar]

Or maybe Dawood, your comment is because Iran is Shia, and you for some odd reason don't think that Shias are Islamic. Maybe that is why you defend the Sunni Taliban practice of marrying young girls. I think that's petty.

[2342]

I think it’s interesting how we are discussing the same schiess over and over again- without anything coming of it. Yes- I realize that women are put to death for what we consider barbaric reasons- all over the world. China throws little baby girls down water wells at their birth- simply because they are girls and they have a slight over population issue. <sarcasm> Female castration still happens all over Africa- and other countries. Female children are sold into the sex trade of every minute of every day because their parents want to make a quick buck to support the 7 sons they have.

 

I also find it interesting that countries such as Iran, Saudi Arabia and others that sell themselves as puritans to the outside world have some of the worse corruption I have ever seen. I spent 9 months in Iran- and behind thick curtains and closed doors -well out of the eye of the religious police- trust me- they drink, and they have some of the purest drugs I have ever tried. Saudi Arabia- when you live there like I did for years- you can get your hands on anything- including right outside the doors Mecca- and I do mean anything from Prostitutes -of any age- to alcohol- and drugs.

 

The sex trade, drugs- alcohol – fuck man its everywhere. And everything has consequences.

 

What do you suggest be done about the 16 year old that was put to death in Iran- for simply being a girl?

 

Talk to a Sunni get one answer based on their Koran and their way of life- speak to a Sh’a and get an entirely different answer. Speak to an American- and they would emotionally/verbally be outraged - for 30 seconds then go on about their business. Speak to a European and they would wave you off and say- Christ- the Muslims have their way of life- let them be.

 

I would say- Scheiss- I realize and respect all ways of life. I have done my best to write about such events my whole life as a journalist- and I have exposed female circumcision in many parts of the world – women being beheaded in Saudi Arabia and Iran- for making a eye contact with a man and I am not alone- many writers have exposed such atrocities everywhere. Nothing ever gets done. Men go unpunished as do entire governments and whole countries. I -as well as -many people have written to everyone in Washington- they show that they “care” with their auto respond e-mails.

 

What should really be done? And if anything is done would we be screwing with the prime directive of another culture we really have no understanding of- except what we are fed by the US media.

[the.crooked]

blow shit up...

[Dawood]

Or maybe Dawood' date=' your comment is because Iran is Shia, and you for some odd reason don't think that Shias are Islamic. Maybe that is why you defend the Sunni Taliban practice of marrying young girls. I think that's petty.[/quote']

 

do you think that the only place where people marry young in in afghanistan?

 

I wasn't defending anything that was specific to the taliban. I was defending the practice of marrying young because people here in america have sex young and thats ok, but marry them and legitimze it and now people have a problem.

 

weird.

[Dawood]

let me tell you a story about the Prophet Muhammad.

 

First, In the Quran stoning to death is the penalty for a married MAN or woman adultress.

In order for the penalty to be carried out , there needs to be 4 witnesses to the act which is very difficult to establish.

 

Well, a woman came to the prophet Muhammad one time and confessed to him that she had committed adultery and that she was pregnant from it.

He turned away from her 4 times as if he didn't want to hear it, but she was persistant in telling him, so he told her to come back when she had the baby (and the scholars say that he was hoping she would forget to come back or that she would just never come back)

Then she came back, so he said, come back in 2 years after youre done nursing the baby (again giving her a chance to not come back) But after 2 years she came back asking him to establish the punishment on her so he did.

 

these modern "Isalamic" governments are shameful

[LosingMyMind]

"religion gone wrong"?

 

religion is wrong.

[Dawood]

most of it, yes, except Islam which in less of a religion and more of a way of life and a mercy to all mankind.

[HardyHarHar]

do you think that the only place where people marry young in in afghanistan?

 

I wasn't defending anything that was specific to the taliban. I was defending the practice of marrying young because people here in america have sex young and thats ok, but marry them and legitimze it and now people have a problem.

 

weird.

 

Two wrongs don't make a right. Nobody's saying that America's perfect.

[fermentor666]

let me tell you a story about the Prophet Muhammad.

 

First, In the Quran stoning to death is the penalty for a married MAN or woman adultress.

In order for the penalty to be carried out , there needs to be 4 witnesses to the act which is very difficult to establish.

 

Well, a woman came to the prophet Muhammad one time and confessed to him that she had committed adultery and that she was pregnant from it.

He turned away from her 4 times as if he didn't want to hear it, but she was persistant in telling him, so he told her to come back when she had the baby (and the scholars say that he was hoping she would forget to come back or that she would just never come back)

Then she came back, so he said, come back in 2 years after youre done nursing the baby (again giving her a chance to not come back) But after 2 years she came back asking him to establish the punishment on her so he did.

 

these modern "Isalamic" governments are shameful

 

 

 

I don't understand this in the context of everything else. So, Muhammad tries to ignore the problem for three years because he has no solution. Then he makes up a punishment? So then this rule is not based on any law of God but on a law of man. God said nothing about the punishment.

[Dawood]

I don't understand this in the context of everything else. So' date=' Muhammad tries to ignore the problem for three years because he has no solution. Then he makes up a punishment? So then this rule is not based on any law of God but on a law of man. God said nothing about the punishment.[/quote']

 

basically, he was trying to excercise mercy on her. Muhammad had no authority to change the law. He was trying to spare her , though by giving her many chances to just forget about it because under Islamic law there needs to be 4 witnesses against the accused and she witnessed 4 times against herself but he was trying to give her time to back out of that.

The Law is in the Quran

 

The woman and the man guilty of illegal sexual intercourse, flog each of them with a hundred stripes. Let not pity withhold you in their case, in a punishment prescribed by Allâh, if you believe in Allâh and the Last Day. And let a party of the believers witness their punishment. (This punishment is for unmarried persons guilty of the above crime but if married persons commit it, the punishment is to stone them to death, according to Allâh's Law). (An-Nur 24:2)

And those who accuse chaste women, and produce not four witnesses, flog them with eighty stripes, and reject their testimony forever, they indeed are the Fâsiqûn (liars, rebellious, disobedient to Allâh). (An-Nur 24:4)

Except those who repent thereafter and do righteous deeds, (for such) verily, Allâh is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. (An-Nur 24:5)

So here, Allah is saying in the quran that there is a punishment for the one who accuses women and lies.

And also, Allah says that there is mercy for those who repent and do righteous deeds. And he fogives them.

This is a proof against the ha

 

 

[Dawood]

I don't understand this in the context of everything else. So' date=' Muhammad tries to ignore the problem for three years because he has no solution. Then he makes up a punishment? So then this rule is not based on any law of God but on a law of man. God said nothing about the punishment.[/quote']

 

basically, he was trying to excercise mercy on her. Muhammad had no authority to change the law. He was trying to spare her , though by giving her many chances to just forget about it because under Islamic law there needs to be 4 witnesses against the accused and she witnessed 4 times against herself but he was trying to give her time to back out of that.

The Law is in the Quran

 

The woman and the man guilty of illegal sexual intercourse, flog each of them with a hundred stripes. Let not pity withhold you in their case, in a punishment prescribed by Allâh, if you believe in Allâh and the Last Day. And let a party of the believers witness their punishment. (This punishment is for unmarried persons guilty of the above crime but if married persons commit it, the punishment is to stone them to death, according to Allâh's Law). (An-Nur 24:2)

 

And those who accuse chaste women, and produce not four witnesses, flog them with eighty stripes, and reject their testimony forever, they indeed are the Fâsiqûn (liars, rebellious, disobedient to Allâh). (An-Nur 24:4)

Except those who repent thereafter and do righteous deeds, (for such) verily, Allâh is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. (An-Nur 24:5)

 

So here, Allah is saying in the quran that there is a punishment for the one who accuses women and lies.

 

And also, Allah says that there is mercy for those who repent and do righteous deeds. And he fogives them.

 

This is a proof against the harsh practices of some of these tyrannical governments that claim to be "islamic"

yet , they display none of the mercy of the prophet Muhammad nor the mercy that Allah speaks of in the quran.

[fermentor666]

Man, that's some really strict punishment. That sort of thing, including it in religious scripture, it's so easy to focus in on the punishment. That's a serious confliction I have with the Qur'an, that it enforces such barbaric punishment in the name of God. The part about repentence is nice, but it doesn't even define what deeds can be done.

[HardyHarHar]

I get annoyed when intellectual anthropoligical types say things like "I don't think their culture would accept democracy." - not that anyone on here is saying that - but wtf? Does our culture accept democracy? No. I think that's such a veiled racist thing to say, and people do say it, about the Middle East, Africa, etc.

[LosingMyMind]

most of it' date=' yes, except Islam which in less of a religion and more of a way of life and a mercy to all mankind.[/quote']

 

any doctrine that seeks to regulate the thoughts, actions and lives of humanity can never be a 'mercy to all mankind' regardless of what it preaches.

[HardyHarHar]

what?

 

That sounds like the kind of crap spew that comes out of politicians mouths. It's so covered in bullshit and conjecture that it has lost all meaning. Let me try one,

 

"He who supposes the outright virtues or vices of society, must have some intangible idealism, incomprehensible to his fellow man."

[fermentor666]

I think it's more along the lines of any religion that mandates brutal torture and executions in the name of God cannot be merciful at the same time. I think that stoning a woman to death for cheating on her husband is fucking terrible, whether or not you need four witnesses or not. Not only that, but it's so easy for those in power or the "moral police" to dictate what constitutes a "good deed". If they want her dead, then she'll be dead no matter what good deeds she does, all in the supposed name of God.

[LosingMyMind]

what?

 

That sounds like the kind of crap spew that comes out of politicians mouths. It's so covered in bullshit and conjecture that it has lost all meaning. Let me try one,

 

"He who supposes the outright virtues or vices of society, must have some intangible idealism, incomprehensible to his fellow man."

 

i suppose a bit of conjecture. but i think a world free of religion would be a good thing. far more of a mercy to mankind. closed dogmas that suppose complete moral superiority and scare/coerce people into following them with threats of eternal damnation etc dont have many redeeming factors...

[Dawood]

I think it's more along the lines of any religion that mandates brutal torture and executions in the name of God cannot be merciful at the same time. I think that stoning a woman to death for cheating on her husband is fucking terrible' date=' whether or not you need four witnesses or not. Not only that, but it's so easy for those in power or the "moral police" to dictate what constitutes a "good deed". If they want her dead, then she'll be dead no matter what good deeds she does, all in the supposed name of God.[/quote']

 

Islam is a mercy to mankind because when practiced correctly, (and you don't see that these days much) It guides mankind to upright and moral character that protects society from themselves. You think it is terrible to stone a woman (or a man) for cheating on their spouse well, I think it is terrible to cheat on your spouse and create a sick society of people who have no boundaries, have all types of promiscuous sex and have children in broken homes who end immoral and worse off than their parents.

 

The punishment is not the goal. The goal is to give people something to think about before they have some fling on the side and destroy the society because of their low desires.

 

True, corruption in govt. is going to exist especially when there are non god fearing tribal leaders running countries, but you can't condemn a whole religion because of corrupt individuals.

 

Any one of us can bear witness to the fact that our desires for money, fame and sex (us being men) is the main source for our downfall eventully. If you don't think so, then someday you will.

No that money and sex is a bad thing , just that as humans we need guidelines for proper behavior. And also, we need laws to govern our societies. You may not agree with the punishment involved simply because you may not see anything wrong with having sex with prostitutes for example, but you have to remember that you don't make the laws, God does and whether you follow them or not is up to you. You are still subject to them and you will be judged accordingly whether you take that seriously or not is up to you also.

 

The problem with freedom, as propogated by america and the west is that you are free to destroy yourself wheras you think stoning an adulterer is harsh, I think it is a mercy for the next person who thinks about having an illegal relationship and doesn't because he remembers the punishment and reflects on the sin he is commiting and the harm he is doing to his family , his faith, the woman and the society at large.

 

I'm sure this mindset is foreign to most of you here , but that's the deal.

[Dawood]

any doctrine that seeks to regulate the thoughts' date=' actions and lives of humanity can never be a 'mercy to all mankind' regardless of what it preaches.[/quote']

 

why is regulation a bad thing? So, with this mode of thought, Brita water filters are horrible evil devices.

 

A brita water filter gets rid of the harmful chemicals in the water you drink so, therefore , this type of regulation is good for you, right?

 

 

Islam is a socio-political mercy because submission to Allah means for a society a total rejection of corruption, wrong-doing, and abnormal behaviors. Submission to One God, Allah, leads to unity, love, and respect to others. An ideal society is what human beings have been dreaming of since even before Plato's 'Republic' or Augustine's 'Eternal City'. With Muhammad (pbuh), the ideal society was constituted of faithful followers called "Companions" who submitted to the Message in obedience to God and His Prophet and Messenger. The latter was the leader and the perfect embodiment of the Qur'an, as his wife, A'isha, described him: "His character was the Qur'an" .

The organization of that society started from basic requirements, such as the brotherhood between all Muslims. Peace was declared verbally in every daily encounter of a Muslim with his Muslim brother or sister. Salutation in its verbal for means: "peace be upon you!" Allah says in the Qur'an, "Salute each other a greeting of blessing and purity as from Allah" (24:61). And He also says: "When a courteous greeting is offered to you, meet it with a greeting still more courteous, or at least of equal courtesy. Allah takes careful account of all things" (4:86). The Prophet (pbuh) was once asked: "Which is the best Islam", he (pbuh) said: "You feed the hungry and you say Salam to those whom you know and those whom you don't know" (Bukhari and Muslim). He also said: "You won't enter Paradise unless you believe, and you won't believe unless you love each other" . Even Ibrahim , who declared himself a Muslim used to say "Salam". Allah says about Ibrahim: "When they entered his place they said "peace" and he said "peace" (Qur'an). Thus, expressing peace verbally is very important in Islam to unify people and to make them feel totally secure among themselves. But, peace also is physical action which cannot come unless there is sincere submission, because Islam is declaration, act, and belief.

Action is very important in Islam, and it the proof of true belief. A true Muslim, or submitter, is the one who is promoting peace rather than enmity, violence, and hatred. The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said: "The Muslim is the one that the other Muslims do not fear his hand and his tongue" . This means that any verbal or physical action which results in harm, offense, and violence is contradictory to true submission, unless it is a matter of self-defense in reaction against outsider action. Peace is the general principle even in war. Allah says in the Qur'an: "But if the enemy inclines towards peace, you have to incline towards peace and trust in Allah, for Allah is the One who hears and knows" (8:61). While Muslims must always be ready for fighting a just cause, lest it be forced on them, even in the midst of the fight they must always be ready for peace if there is any inclination torwards peace on either side. There is no merit merely in a fight by itself. It should be a joyful duty not for itself, but to establish the reign of peace and righteousness and Allah's law, which is the perfect law.

To reign peace is the role of any Muslim. Even when Muslims won wars and battles, they didn't execute and torture their captives, but they were required to be peaceful towards them. Allah says in the Qur'an: "O Prophet! Say to those who are captives in your hands, ' if Allah finds any good in your hearts, He will give you something better than what has been taken from you, and He will forgive you', for Allah is Oft-forgiving Most Merciful" (8:70). Thus, the purpose of Muslims, or true submitters, is to bring people to God's Grace and Mercy.

Serving God in submission, is at the same time, freeing one's self from serving any other person. Real freedom comes through the complete submission to God, because the only One who deserves to be served is God. The Prophets themselves were servants of God and they have been the best submitters to God. They were the best example of human beings. Thus, anyone who doesn't recognize his or her servitude to God in submission and surrender while humiliating himself or herself, he or she, in fact, does not want peace. How can human beings have peace while they are competing in inventing all kinds of weapons, drugs, poisons, and promoting indecency, living in social injustice, individualism rather than brotherhood and solidarity, and living according to the jungle rule. Real peace on different levels, as we have encountered before, comes through submission to God, thus, Islam. Allah says: "The religion before Allah is Islam (submission to His Will" (3:19). Islam is the logical conclusion to a universal religion, because it is a non-sectarian and non-racial religion. For Islam is just submission to the will of God. Allah says: "If anyone desires a religion other than Islam, never will it be accepted of him, and in the Hereafter he will be in the ranks of those who have lost" (3:85).

 

 

People need to realize that the Islam that billions of people worldwide live is not the violent Islam that the western media seeks to portray and promote. The violence people see is a small fraction of people who went astray in their idology and the western media is capitolizing on this to push it's goals of marginilizing Islam.

 

whether or not you like it, the future is for Islam.