400 years behind is a pretty damn long time in an era of instant worldwide communication, widespread knowledge, etc. We’re not talking about a long lost deserted island. People in the real world, the one in which modern western countries exist, live like fucking barbarians.
Mr.Excellent:
Stoning? Seriously, Iran, what the hell? How do you even find people willing to do this? I mean, it’s gotta take some serious time to stone someone to death - time they probably pass saying things like “please stop” and “why are you doing this to me?” and **“oh god, it hurts.” **
I’m pretty sure they aren’t saying that.
tomndebb:
Honor killings, like Female Genital Mutilation, are cross-cultural situations that have nothing to do with religion. They occur among Christians, Hindus, and Buddhists, and I would not be surprised to discover that animists have their own versions of them. The terminology differs from one culture to another, but the use of violence to ensure that (young) women will not step out of line with cultural norms is not a Muslim phenomenon.
From Syed Kamran Mirza , well known Islam critic
Most Muslim apologists and also some gullible westerners want to argue that the ‘so called “honor killing” is not Islamic and it’s a tribal/cultural vice.’ This statement is utterly untrue and only a wish full covers up. It’s true that in pre-Islamic Arab culture this heinous honor killing of women did exist; likewise, many other uncivilized practices like stoning, flogging, beheading, slavery etc also existed in the pre-Islamic Arab society. But Islam did incorporate entirely most of these inhumane/uncivilized practices of pagan society, which they now call them Allah’s laws.
Had it been the tribal/cultural practice, ‘honor killing’ would exist amongst the Arabs only. But honor killing does happen amongst the non-Arab Muslims also. Also Arabs belonged to all religions (Muslims, Christians, Jews, Bhai etc.) would practice honor killing with equal prevalence. Fact of the matter is—no Arab Christians, Jews or Bahai etc do practice this uncivilized act at all. Only Arab Muslims do practice this heinous act with a regular pattern.
Honor killing does happen only amongst the Muslims and these honor killings get support and encouragement from the ethical teachings of religion Islam. In 1986 this kind of honor killing did happen in the United States of America in an Arab Muslim family. In 2003 honor killing happened in Sweden again in a Muslim family. However, some very rare, sporadic case of such killing might have happened in other society or people of other religion. But they are no where near to compare with the regular pattern, or routine feature of honor killings which do happen in the Muslim nations that I have mentioned. It has been reported that in Pakistan and in Jordan several hundreds of “honor killings” do happen every year. Perhaps, it will be more plausible to name this so called ‘honor’ as the “Islamic honor”, which Muslims stupendously try to save by killing their love one!
Also Arabs belonged to all religions (Muslims, Christians, Jews, Bhai etc.) would practice honor killing with equal prevalence. Fact of the matter is—no Arab Christians, Jews or Bahai etc do practice this uncivilized act at all.
I’m not so sure that it’s true. Certainly, there exist honour killings among Christian Arabs. I have no idea what the relative frequency is among Muslin and Christian Arabs (and I note that the article claims it is “unusual” for Christians) but it is an exaggeration to claim Christians don’t do it.
You seem to be right. Looks like she might not get stoned. She might get hung instead. After being in jail (it looks like) since 2006 and receiving 99 lashes. Pretty merciful.
That’s true. I guess that makes it ok then? If not, perhaps you could explain the relevance, since Squink seems to be a bit distracted building strawmen?
-XT
You beat me to it. The Guardian says she might be hanged too.
Uzi
July 12, 2010, 3:26pm
106
OT: What is the difference between culture and religion and why is one responsible for certain actions and the other not?
In any case, I’m Canadian. Can I condemn stoning some woman for possibly having an unauthorized dick in her? Or should I look through my country’s history for ‘equivalent’ actions before I’m allowed to make such a condemnation?