# Saudi court upholds child rapist crucifixion ruling **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [November 3, 2009, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saudi-court-upholds-child-rapist-crucifixion-ruling/516190 "2009-11-03T19:05:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2009, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saudi-court-upholds-child-rapist-crucifixion-ruling/516190/61 "2009-11-06T03:32:05Z")
> [@Curtis LeMay](#): > > Because it’s not cruel and unusual punishment. How do you come to the conclusion that decapitating someone with a single blow is more cruel or unusual than shooting someone? ---
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2009, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saudi-court-upholds-child-rapist-crucifixion-ruling/516190/62 "2009-11-06T03:38:21Z")
> [@Grumman](#): > > How do you come to the conclusion that decapitating someone with a single blow is more cruel or unusual than shooting someone? Less pain. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2009, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saudi-court-upholds-child-rapist-crucifixion-ruling/516190/63 "2009-11-06T04:43:43Z")
> [@Curtis LeMay](#): > > Less pain. Almost certainly not. Decapitation via guillotine is messy, but _probably_ ( impossible to be definitive, obviously ) much less painful, based on what we know about how the human nervous system works. Especially considering the the much higher likliehood of muffing it with a firing squad - guillotines are pretty failure-proof. It was actually invented specifically as a more humane alternative to methods such as hanging. ---
**Author:** ![ToeJam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dfb087/32.png) [@ToeJam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ToeJam)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2009, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saudi-court-upholds-child-rapist-crucifixion-ruling/516190/64 "2009-11-06T05:19:15Z")
> [@Curtis LeMay](#): > > Less pain. How do you figure that? It’s usually been cited as a blade being an instantaneous severing of the spinal column and such- WAY less pain than getting shot repeatedly in the chest and suffering massive trauma until the heart gives out from shock… ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2009, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saudi-court-upholds-child-rapist-crucifixion-ruling/516190/65 "2009-11-06T11:24:54Z")
> [@Walker\_in\_Eternity](#): > > Dismembering corpses is something we haven’t done for a long time now, it seems barbaric to our modern day sensibilities. I find executing convicted criminals to be barbaric to _my_ modern-day sensibilities. But maybe I’m just some pansy, Communist, tree-hugging Goddess humper. Or, maybe I’m just not Saudi enough (or American enough). ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2009, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saudi-court-upholds-child-rapist-crucifixion-ruling/516190/66 "2009-11-06T11:28:40Z")
Re: your response to **Curtis** : > [@ToeJam](#): > > How do you figure that? It’s usually been cited as a blade being an instantaneous severing of the spinal column and such- WAY less pain than getting shot repeatedly in the chest and suffering massive trauma until the heart gives out from shock… **Curtis** is just a boy. Won’t somebody think of the children?? ---
**Author:** ![ToeJam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dfb087/32.png) [@ToeJam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ToeJam)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2009, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saudi-court-upholds-child-rapist-crucifixion-ruling/516190/67 "2009-11-06T16:51:35Z")
Go visit the \*\*Nazi \*\*thread in the pit and then come back. \*\*Curtis \*\*gets the same treatment as every other poster on here deserves. ---
**Author:** ![Testy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c37758/32.png) [@Testy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Testy)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2009, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saudi-court-upholds-child-rapist-crucifixion-ruling/516190/68 "2009-11-06T17:54:10Z")
Just anecdotal evidence, I know, but I lived in Saudi for 22 years and generally found it to be a very safe place, especially for children. No gangs. drug dealers, drive-by shootings, molesters, kidnappers, etc. My own belief is that their use of the DP had a lot to do with that. It seems to be more effective as a deterrent in Saudi than in other places for the following reasons: a) The perp gets killed in about a year after conviction. No multi-decade appeal process. b) It is public and bloody to make sure it IS a deterrent. Anyone who doesn’t believe the DP is a deterrent should attend one of those executions in person. c) The victim’s family/survivors get some input on the sentencing. (forgive the crime, be compensated, or let the execution be carried out) As far as the crucifixion thing goes, I had always heard it was an option but had never heard of it actually being done. I believe it is actually part of Shariah law but is almost never invoked. Regards Testy ---
**Author:** ![buttonjockey308](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bcef8e/32.png) [@buttonjockey308](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buttonjockey308)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2009, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saudi-court-upholds-child-rapist-crucifixion-ruling/516190/69 "2009-11-06T17:54:23Z")
Christopher Titus does a bit called Pedophile Crucifixions, specifically aimed at Catholic Priests, but the idea works here. I agree with every part of it, especially the sentence at the end which is something on the order of; “if I have offended anyone, or if anyone has a problem with this, all they have to do is provide the pro-raping-little-kids side of the argument”. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2009, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saudi-court-upholds-child-rapist-crucifixion-ruling/516190/70 "2009-11-07T02:42:53Z")
> [@Tamerlane](#): > > Almost certainly not. > > Decapitation via guillotine is messy, but _probably_ ( impossible to be definitive, obviously ) much less painful, based on what we know about how the human nervous system works. Especially considering the the much higher likliehood of muffing it with a firing squad - guillotines are pretty failure-proof. It was actually invented specifically as a more humane alternative to methods such as hanging. > [@ToeJam](#): > > How do you figure that? It’s usually been cited as a blade being an instantaneous severing of the spinal column and such- WAY less pain than getting shot repeatedly in the chest and suffering massive trauma until the heart gives out from shock… Chiming in to say this is true. The guillotine is possibly the most humane method of execution devised to date. It’s just that the aftermath is so messy for the rest of us. They always put the condemned in face down, though. In particularly repulsive cases, like, say, John Wayne Gacy, maybe they should stick him in face up, so he can see the blade. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Cesario](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecae2f/32.png) [@Cesario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cesario)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2009, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saudi-court-upholds-child-rapist-crucifixion-ruling/516190/71 "2009-11-07T05:11:21Z")
> [@buttonjockey308](#): > > Christopher Titus does a bit called Pedophile Crucifixions, specifically aimed at Catholic Priests, but the idea works here. I agree with every part of it, especially the sentence at the end which is something on the order of; “if I have offended anyone, or if anyone has a problem with this, all they have to do is provide the pro-raping-little-kids side of the argument”. Seems that he’s just another one too wrapped up in his own ignorance to learn the difference between pedophiles and child molesters. A pity. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2009, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saudi-court-upholds-child-rapist-crucifixion-ruling/516190/72 "2009-11-07T05:16:56Z")
> [@Curtis LeMay](#): > > What about Adolf Hitler or Josef Stalin? Well, they’re both dead, so the point is sort of moot. Still, “always and everywhere” means “always and everywhere”, and it doesn’t change just because someone is super-extra-special bad. > [@Curtis LeMay](#): > > BTW, you live in the same city I live in. Truly? Which junior high do you go to? ---
**Author:** ![AboutAsWeirdAsYouCanGet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@AboutAsWeirdAsYouCanGet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AboutAsWeirdAsYouCanGet)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2009, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saudi-court-upholds-child-rapist-crucifixion-ruling/516190/73 "2009-11-07T06:03:35Z")
> [@](#): > > In the UK we no longer have a death penalty, but I can see the logic in using one as long as guilt is 100% confirmed (or as near as possible) and the method is relatively humane Yes. I do think there ARE cases where a crime is so horrendous that rehabilitation cannot take place. If it’s totally and completely and blatently obvious that the person is beyond remorse (ie very dangerous psychopath) then yes. Kill them. On the other hand the justice system is flawed. Then again…what do you DO with the psychopaths? They can’t be rehabbed. They can’t be let back into society. ---
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2009, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saudi-court-upholds-child-rapist-crucifixion-ruling/516190/74 "2009-11-07T16:16:22Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Well, they’re both dead, so the point is sort of moot. Still, “always and everywhere” means “always and everywhere”, and it doesn’t change just because someone is super-extra-special bad.Truly? I meant if they had been arrested would you support their execution? Since you don’t why don’t you think mass murderers who killed millions should be executed. > [@](#): > > Which junior high do you go to? I go to Moiola in Fountain Valley . . . . ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2009, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saudi-court-upholds-child-rapist-crucifixion-ruling/516190/75 "2009-11-07T16:32:33Z")
> [@Curtis LeMay](#): > > I meant if they had been arrested would you support their execution? Since you don’t why don’t you think mass murderers who killed millions should be executed. I already told you. Capital punishment is wrong, always and everywhere. Doesn’t get much easier to comprehend than that. And I’m not really comfortable with thirteen-year old kids telling everyone on the internet the name and location of their apartment complexes. It’s enough for me to know that you’re not one of my daughter’s classmates. ---
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2009, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saudi-court-upholds-child-rapist-crucifixion-ruling/516190/76 "2009-11-07T16:45:19Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > I already told you. Capital punishment is wrong, always and everywhere. Doesn’t get much easier to comprehend than that. Why? Just curious. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2009, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saudi-court-upholds-child-rapist-crucifixion-ruling/516190/77 "2009-11-08T00:23:57Z")
> [@Curtis LeMay](#): > > Why? Just curious. I’m not particularly sure I believe that, but let’s let that pass for the moment. It simply isn’t a debatable issue, which is why I don’t bother debating it. ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2009, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saudi-court-upholds-child-rapist-crucifixion-ruling/516190/78 "2009-11-08T00:54:13Z")
> [@](#): > > The punishment is a beheading. I don’t see how that’s any worse than the gas chamber or a lethal injection. That depends on whether they use a guillotine or a butter knife. The crucifixion is just street theater, for the amusement and/or satisfaction of the onlookers. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2009, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saudi-court-upholds-child-rapist-crucifixion-ruling/516190/79 "2009-11-08T01:30:07Z")
> [@Curtis LeMay](#): > > I go to Moiola in Fountain Valley . . . . It is not a really good idea to post excessive amounts of personal identifying information. As an adult, you are free to make your own choices as to what to reveal, but as ypu are a minor, I have removed some of the information. ---
**Author:** ![Cesario](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecae2f/32.png) [@Cesario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cesario)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2009, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saudi-court-upholds-child-rapist-crucifixion-ruling/516190/80 "2009-11-08T03:06:52Z")
> [@tomndebb](#): > > It is not a really good idea to post excessive amounts of personal identifying information. As an adult, you are free to make your own choices as to what to reveal, but as ypu are a minor, I have removed some of the information. Wouldn’t a general policy of not allowing posters to provide personal information be easier to enforce than one that only applies to known minors? [/off-topic] [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saudi-court-upholds-child-rapist-crucifixion-ruling/516190.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saudi-court-upholds-child-rapist-crucifixion-ruling/516190.md?page=5)