Iran Woman Who Faced Stoning to Be Lashed, Son Says (FOXNews.com article - A.P. Sept. 6, 2010)
I am currently waiting to see if Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, who is in an Iranian prison, will be sentenced to death by stoning. It is my hope that the Iranian government will eventually see that this type of punishment is not acceptable. If they do not come to this realization, she will be forced to depend on the rest of the world to come to her rescue.
She has been sentenced to death by stoning for the crime of adultery. The purpose of writing this is not to argue her innocence of this crime. The bigger point here is that even if she is guilty of adultery, death by stoning is far too extreme of a punishment. The Iranian government should be held accountable by the rest of the world for their lack of respect for human life and their consistently inhumane methods of discipline.
If she does eventually fall victim to this horrible form of punishment it will not be the first time her own human rights will have been violated. She has also recently been given 99 lashes because a photo released in a news article allegedly showed her unveiled, which is illegal for women in her country. Again, I am not attempting to argue her innocence. This too was a punishment that would appear to the rest of the world as extreme.
I understand that every country has the ability to make its own laws and should be free to do so. However, they should not be allowed to ignore the human rights that are meant to be commonly afforded to all people of all countries.
My biggest fear at this time is that because of the attention this story has received all around the world, the Iranian government may attempt to rush its decision to execute her so as to put an end to this whole situation. It appears that the stoning could take place any time now. At this time I don’t know that anything can be done to save her. It appears to me that the more attention that is paid to this story, the higher risk of mistreatment she faces.
Ashtiani has received some support from Brazil and Italy as well as the Catholic Church. However, the more powerful voices around the world like the United States and Great Britain have not been as vocal with their support for her. The United States has long been a champion for human rights worldwide and I am hoping that they will stand up against this extreme violation of those rights.
What will the world say if Ashtiani is to die in this barbaric fashion? Will there be an outcry to save her before it is too late? Will the super powers of the world make any attempt to save her life? And, what about all of those in her country and other countries in that region that are facing these same human rights violations without the media spotlight that Ashtiani has received? Regardless of her guilt or innocence, the punishment she has already been given and is about to be given is nothing more than a despicable display of a lack of regard for human life.
So, please think of Ashtiani tonight when you are reflecting upon the troubles you face in your own life. Think of how you would feel if you or a loved one were facing the type of fate that she may soon be forced to face. Most of all pray for her and all of the people around the world that are falling and have already fallen victim to these types of outlandish punishments.
Jake, I have also followed this story in the news. The last I had heard, Ashtiani's stoning was canceled, but the family worried she would still be put to death. The surrounding media attention had caused the Iranian government to shut down communications with the family, not allowing the son to see his mother, or tell him of her fate. I can only imagine the terror he must be suffering, watching his mother endure such barbaric punishments for, what he claims, are baseless accusations.
ReplyDeleteIt is not easy to come to grips with the idea that this type of brutality exists in the world today. Even allowing for cultural differences, it is difficult not to judge such harsh repercussions for behavior that is common place in our society. As a Christian, I find it disturbing to realize that Mosaic law used stonings as punishments several thousand years ago. Even so, it was a different time, and the practice of blood sacrifices of innocent children, by other cultures of the day, put into perspective such harsh punishments for actual crimes. But to imagine this type of archaic justice being carried out today makes me sick to my stomach. It illustrates how lucky we are to live in a country which does take human rights so seriously.
I said a prayer for Ashtiani and her family. I echo your hopes that the United States will take this situation seriously and will bring to bear what pressure they can on the Iranian government. I agree, that this woman’s plight does put into perspective the challenges in my own life. Just being here, in this college course, is a privilege many woman around the world are denied. I’m feeling pretty blessed at the moment, as I think of this poor woman's plight.
Jake
ReplyDeleteI read your blog and I hear your cries and just so you know I am with you and do often think of people such as this when I lay down to sleep at night and anytime I get called up to deploy for my country. I often hear people say why are we fighting in a foreign country to free someone who does not have enough strength to defend them self. I see stories like this and I understand why because these people were not raised to defend them self as we are here in this country. They are taught to be seen but not heard. They think that this is normal in a lot of ways and don't realize that they should be free. The laws of other countries are very hard for us as Americans to understand but we are raised to believe different. I think I read that the press started this by mistaking this woman for someone else and this hw she wound up in prison to start with. That is why I believe when it comes to news about someone in another country that the press should learn to control them self and not run a story like this until they are sure they know what they are talking about. I will continue to watch this story and pray that this woman be released but don't have much hope for that with the leader of this country having the final decision.
V/R
Larry