Iranians suspend death by stoning
About time. Now we’ll see for how much time…
Iran’s has suspended the punishment of death by stoning, state media say.
A judiciary spokesman said four people sentenced to die by stoning had had their sentences commuted and that all other cases had been put under review.
Lawyers and human rights campaigners have said at least eight women and a man are awaiting the punishment.
(…) The BBC’s Jon Leyne in Tehran says this is because the authorities have been reluctant to completely abolish a penalty they say is endorsed by Islamic law.
Although stoning is not prescribed in the Koran, some Muslim scholars say it is in the traditions of the Prophet Muhammad.
Nevertheless, an Iranian judiciary spokesman said the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, had commuted the sentences of two people to 10 years in jail. Two others would receive lashes, he said.
BBC NEWS | Middle East | Iranians suspend death by stoning.
Technorati Tags: Abuses+of+Human+Rights, Human+Rights, Human+Rights+abuses, Iran, Islamism, stoning, Tehran
[...] BOLDLY INTO THE 10th CENTURY! Iranians suspend death by stoning. Mindd you, death by gun, backhoe, burial, hanging from a crane, [...]
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August 8, 2008 at 9:31 pm