21st Century Stoning

21st Century Stoning
Rebecca Harrelson
9-1-10
9:24

Stoning-punishment inflicted by throwing stones at the victim (even unto death).
Ever since the stoning of forty three year old Iranian mother of two, Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani two other people have been sentenced on charges of adultery. Since her sentence over the past weeks, human-rights activists have staged demonstrations in many different cities.
The stoning of adulterers use to be used for preventing illegitimate births that might dirty up the male tribal bloodlines of Arabia. But now it is taking place in a world where more and more women demand freedom, equal play, and equal status with men.
Since the uproar of Ashtieni's stoning there has been international anger and widespread criticism of the Islamic republic. Although stoning is not only practiced by Muslims, neither did it begin with Islam. Human rights groups say a young girl was stoned to death in 2007 in an Iraqi Yazidi community, which practices an ancient Kardish religion.
How is it possible that stoning is still around and being practiced? According to Iran's Human Rights Activists news agency, the court approved on August 28th a verdict of stoning to death-Vali Janfeshani and Sariyeh Ebodi for having an extra marital affairs.
Although stoning is being said to be a last resort for adulterers the Islamic law has requirements and strict conditions for stoning. "There must be four male eyewitnesses to attest to having seen the sexual act and their accounts must match in all details, or else they can be subject to criminal penalties," said Aron Zysow, a specialist on Islamic Law at Princeton University.
But there is a light at the end of the tunnel for the poor souls being stoned. Anyone who survives a stoning is set free without further punishment. But being set free is highly unlikely, because the victims are usually bound in cloth and have their hands tied before they are buried.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/babylonbeyond/2010/07/iran-stoning-sakineh-ashtiani.html