Disgusted by the human race: stoning

Without television in our house, I’m often a bit behind on world news. I know I can read about it online, but I don’t have much time for that either. Thank goodness for twitter and other conversation… I could have, however, gone forever without hearing about this – but then what change would ever come about? Ignorance is not always bliss.

A woman in Iran is going to be stoned to death.

The U.N. Universal Declaration of Human Rights clearly states that, “No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.”

I just found this article from BBC News (August 2008) stating that stoning sentences are rarely carried out and that Iran had suspended the punishment of death by stoning. Amnesty International called on Iran in January (2008) to abolish what it called a “horrific practice, designed to increase the suffering” of those condemned. Well.…… apparently it has been reinstated.

This woman’s crime? What could this MOTHER of TWO have done to deserve being buried up to her chest and stoned to death. Stoned with rocks large enough to cause pain and damage, but not large enough to kill. It doesn’t matter what she did, I’m appalled and horrified that things like this still take place in the world.

But if you must know, this 43-year-old woman was charged with adultery. She finally confessed after brutal “questioning” and her family swears her innocence. She received 99 lashings for that and has been in jail for 5 years. Her two children get to visit her for 15 minutes every Monday. She paid her dues and her record now states innocence. However, the case was recently reopened and the decision was made to stone her to death.

Get this… Iran was selected to serve on the United Nations Commission on the Status Of Women. This country, that is STONING WOMEN. Imagine if we stoned citizens of the United States for committing adultery. And before you just read this and think about how sad it is and then move on to your next task, I want you to stop. Stop and picture it… this woman, this mother, this daughter, this sister… is going to be BURIED and STONED and left for days until she dies. She has two children. Just imagine it, will you?

And now do something about it.

First–there’s a bill to condemn the selection of Iran to serve on the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women. Write your congressman a letter! Show your support for this bill!

Second–this stoning can be prevented. We CAN save this mother. WE CAN. Write a letter to the UN High Commissioner for the Office of Human Rights and demand this stoning be stopped. All it takes is a letter. And look–a sample letter is written for you, it can’t get any easier. Do it, right now.

Just because it’s not happening in your own backyard doesn’t mean it’s not important. It doesn’t mean it doesn’t affect you. For crying out loud, Iran is being selected to serve on the UN Commission on the Status of Women! That’s close enough to your own backyard. Women and men everywhere should be outraged and appalled and should NOT tolerate this kind of abuse. Stand up!