Iran says won't send condemned woman to Brazil

[Huguenot]

There are records of a woman executed for adultery in the US in 1641.

That's even more recent...

On second thoughts, that probably supports the fanatics argument :)

[DJKillaQueen]

I agree that peculiarity is not the sole preserve of religious fanaticism.

There is indeed fog, created by the Iranina authorities it seems. She was never tried for murder, but instead retried for adultery (which supposedly happened after the death of her husband - so how can it be adultery?) even though she'd already been tried for it, found guilty based on a confession she gave under duress, and punished with 99 lashes (which were carried out).

The retrial coincided with a trial for murder of one of the men she is supposed to have had an affair with and he was found guilty but somehow she was also found guilty of murder AND manslaughter (according to the Iranian authorities) but was handed the death sentence for adultery only. And then a warrant for arrest was put out for her lawyer so he had to flee.

What kind of judicial system is that?

Iran's response that it's some plot by Western governments to 'make them look bad' is infantile imo and the citing of the case in America of a woman given the death penalty for hiring two hit men to murder her husband so that she could claim insurance is a poor comparison given the differences in the two judicial systems and the burden of proof required in America compared to Iran.

[DJKillaQueen]

Apparently you could still be hung in the UK for 'Arson in royal dockyards' in 1965.

[Ridgley]

In those particular countries, everyone is an infidel if they are not Muslims especially women

(6)

[DJKillaQueen]

Saudi Arabia is intolerant of any other religion besides Islam. Essentially we are talking about religious fascism in those countries, but it is a fascism imposed by the views of the leaders - rather than being a symptom of Islam. Essentially a dictatorship is a dictatorship whatever the nationality or religion or otherwise.

[Huguenot]

I'll have to check if women can be Muslims. ;-)

[gerritsmith]

don't they have human rights lawyers in Iran?

[DJKillaQueen]

Yes they do but they often fear for their lives.

[expat]

> under British Law

Which they do not follow nor does lot of countries

[Tarot]

Until women are allowed eqaulity in the middle east,they will never reach their full potential of intelligence.

[KidKruger]

I wouldn't say that oppression of woman in Iran primarily compromises their intelligence, the key issues are the comparative constraints on their behaviours and engagement in an Iranian society that is dominated by males in many aspects.

Intelligence is surely there already or it's not (within limits obviously and allowing for the benefits of 'academia').

I would say the potential women are prevented from reaching is their ability to participate evenly and equally at all levels in that society and therefore in their ability to engage in those respects with their counterparts from nations around the globe. As a result Iran is surely preventing ITSELF from reaching it's full potential.

Edited to say I just noticed your comment was about middle-east, however my comment is still valid I think, just applicable to middle-east now and not just Iran.

[DJKillaQueen]

In fact Iran has very good education for women. Many women go to University for example. But it's that they have little opportunity to do anything with their education afterwards that is the problem. Some of that is social tradition....and some is ideoligical religious politics. But in terms of educating women...Iran scores higher than most Islamic nations.

[Tarot]

Yes I agree with both you two,its not only those countries where women are limited in what they may do. They have no real say about who they can marry ,or even if they can have a career. Imagine being covered head to foot ,having your physical freedom curtailed in that way.Some places in the world still practice female mutilation, The men bully and batter them, even their own daughters, They wont let them look or speak to other men, yet its ok for them,they are not supposed to look at naked women. but they still sell "Nuts magazines ,etc.in their shops. Whats happening to that woman in Iran, is not far off to what is happening to a lot of women living over here. Primitive treatment of women. Who can say honor killings are ok.

[DJKillaQueen]

There are reports that she is to be executed by hanging today. Will see if it happens or not.

[Tarot]

well whats happened now to this woman ?

[Huguenot]

Whether we like it or not, 'face' is a very important concept in some cultures.

Whilst publicity probably saved this woman initially, it might be wise to let this drop off the front pages so that the option to change her sentence can be done without losing face.

Having said that, no-one knows the truth behind this case, it's also possible that this woman was behind the murder of her husband.

[Tarot]

I believe you are right about that, its sad that pride ,can do so much harm. Like honour killings. To us it is barbaric. I,m not even sure if its anything to do with religion either. Some old tribal thing,that is ruining life.I thought the Persians were a bit more modern thinking. than the Iran they have now.I have a few friends from the time of the szar. and they dont think that way at all.

[KidKruger]

I think it was the Shah, not the Tzar !!

[Tarot]

So it was, What a doughnut.

[HAL9000]

From today's Jerusalem Post: Iran says woman sentenced to stoning may be spared (Associated Press 11/23/2010 18:37)

[DJKillaQueen]

This is welcome news.

[mockney piers]

Iran is a young republic, born out of a genuinely popular revolution and a subsequent political and religious terror.

It still has to find it's future path to the sort of country it wants to be.

There has been a quiet struggle for the centre of power that's been going on for the best part of 25 years that hasn't ended yet.

Cases like this inevitbly have to be seen through that lens. Who is trying to appeal to whom, what power base are you trying to shore up, and ultimately what is the real end result once the the rhetoric and posturing is over.

I've said before that Ahmedinajad's usurpation of the presidency wasn't the real battle, but the one between the religious power, the executive, the legislative, and of course, the people, is ongoing, and i hope for Irans sake it can be resolved within the political realm.

Here's a short but succinct article that sets it out nicely.

http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2010/11/24/is_this_really_the_end_for_ahmadinejad

[KidKruger]

Thinking about it, being stoned to death would be such a drag.

[mockney piers]

Yeah, that's a lot of THC!!!

[HAL9000]

Breaking News: Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani 'freed' after outcry over stoning sentence

However, today, the BBC reports: Iran state TV 'films new stoning woman confession'