Iran To Administer Barbaric Punishment

[mrs_overall]

Is this justified?

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/iranian-court-rules-man-who-blinded-girl-in-acid-attack-must-have-his-eyes-gouged-out-and-nose-cut-off-9171190.html

[mrs_overall]

rocky, yes he did get life but was out after doing around 14 years. It all happened near where I lived at the time, and he genuinely believed he had the right to take a life.

This is a new experience for me - posting in News and being all grown up and sensible.
It won't last.

[rockyracoon]

Lol, I did't realise we were in news, I'd better behave! :)

How on earth did he justify that, how absolutely ridiculous.

[Kromovaracun]

My only problem with institutionalising this kind of punishment is that it doesn't account for wrongful convictions. I have no idea how rigorous the Iranian judicial system is (though at a guess I would not be optimistic),and if they make a habit of these kind of punishments, they're eventually going to mutilate someone innocent. Assuming they haven't already.

[Kromovaracun]

"The mother in me is wondering why they don't take his nads off as well"

I don't think he's going to be getting much "attention" anytime soon...

[andy-hughes]

Better late than never Mrs Overstrand - I don't agree with the punishment.

Of course, as always with these debates, I entirely understand the emotional need for revenge (and let's not kid ourselves it is for deterant reasons) - but I still believe that we descend to the barbarity of the criminal if he is punished in this way.

Punishment, yes, premeditated barbaric mutilation, no.

[Kromovaracun]

I don't really have any problem with "descending" to a criminal's level if the punishment is effective in its purpose - to reduce the likelihood of the crime being repeated.

As I say, the only problem is that irreversible punishments don't take account of wrongful convictions.

[Dee Sa]

havig lived in the Middle East [ not Iran] for a long time I found their logic was entirely different to ours.
An eye for an eye [ no pun intended] and just desserts are normal in their world, did you ever see that video of the 8yr old who stole and his sentence was to have his right arm run over by a car and they showed it being done ? made my stomach churn.

[Canary42]

////the bleeding heart left wingers////

No, they're not bleeding heart left wingers, they're people who recognise that to sink into equivalent barbarism is not the answer. And applying unpleasant epithets to one who doesn't hold your views is no substitute for real debate.

[mrs_overall]

I should imagine many convictions in Iran are based on confessions obtained by torture and they have a fairly high level of convictions of innocent people.
I don't know the full facts of this case so I cannot comment on whether this is a just or wrongful conviction.

Andy - it was refreshing to read your opinion, which as always is sound and reasoned.

I have to go now but will be back to read further comments later

[ToraToraTora]

Some of you may find this surprising but I also do not agree with this punishment. I can see the "eye for an eye" logic and of course the need for vengence. However it is not for the state to carry out either, the state should not have the mechanism to carry this out. I also worry about the precedent being set and the irreversability of what is being proposed, kromo is quite right to question how sure of guilt they are etc. This is of course pretty standard barbarity from the religion of peace but no civilised state could possibly countenenance such a punishment. There that's shocked you hasn't it!

[mrs_overall]

canary, when I said "bleeding heart left wingers" I added a winking face after it to show that the remark was very much tongue in cheek.
I am interested to know the opinion of others on this subject and respect anyone's view

[mrs_overall]

Tora, no it hasn't shocked me, read my comment above to canary

[ToraToraTora]

That was a hoax dee Sa: http://www.hoax-slayer.com/child-stealing-bread-iran.shtml

[sandyRoe]

The trouble with this punishment, as I see it, is that it doesn't go far enough. Having been blinded and mutilated it's clear that this man is set up for life in a lucrative career as a beggar. Could the authorities not etch some message on his forehead with acid warning potential benefactors of his crime?

[RATTER15]

I also don't agree with it. I agree that the guy deserves it but I don't think that any civilised community should be carrying out this barbaric act.

But then again they aren't exactly civilised are they!!

[mrs_overall]

a further comment to canary - I started this thread for the purpose of a debate, hence the question "is this justified?"

I have never been unpleasant to anyone who holds a view which opposes mine

[andy-hughes]

sandyRoe - "The trouble with this punishment, as I see it, is that it doesn't go far enough. Having been blinded and mutilated it's clear that this man is set up for life in a lucrative career as a beggar. Could the authorities not etch some message on his forehead with acid warning potential benefactors of his crime?"

A 'lucrative career as a beggar ...' - do you actually know you are not just thinking this, you are typing it at the same time?

[sandyRoe]

My last post was ironic.

[RATTER15]

Lol Andy I was thinking along the same lines.

I think there will be queues all waiting for the same procedure!!

[andy-hughes]

Thanks for clarifying sandy - as I know to my cost, irony does not always translate well into print!