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Now there's a cringe-worthy turn of phrase. "Iran mulls death penalty for Internet crimes," from Agence France-Presse, July 2:
TEHERAN - Iran's parliament is set to debate a draft bill which could see the death penalty used for those deemed to promote corruption, prostitution and apostasy on the Internet, reports said on Wednesday.
MPs on Wednesday voted to discuss as a priority the draft bill which seeks to "toughen punishment for harming mental security in society," the ISNA news agency said.
The text lists a wide range of crimes such rape and armed robbery for which the death penalty is already applicable. The crime of apostasy (the act of leaving a religion, in this case Islam) is also already punishable by death.
However, the draft bill also includes "establishing weblogs and sites promoting corruption, prostitution and apostasy", which is a new addition to crimes punishable by death.
Those convicted of these crimes "should be punished as "mohareb' (enemy of God) and "corrupt on the earth'," the text says.
Under Iranian law the standard punishments for these two crimes are "hanging, amputation of the right hand and then the left foot as well as exile."
As prescribed by Qur'an 5:33.
The bill -- which is yet to be debated by lawmakers -- also stipulates that the punishment handed out in these cases "cannot be commuted, suspended or changed".
Internet is widely used in Iran despite restrictions on access and the blocking of thousands of websites with a sexual content or deemed as insulting religious sanctities and promoting political dissent.
Blogging is also very popular among cyber-savvy young Iranians, some openly discussing their private lives or criticising the system.
Human rights groups have accused Iran of making excessive use of the death penalty but Teheran insists it is an effective deterrent that is carried out only after an exhaustive judicial process.
The judicial process is of far less use in assuring that justice is done when the laws being applied are unjust in the first place.
The number of executions soared last year to 317 amid a campaign which the authorities said was aimed at improving security in society, and was sharply up on 2006 figures when Amnesty International recorded 177 executions.
All legislation in Iran has to be rubber-stamped by a conservative clerical watchdog before it is written into law. The Guardians Council vets bills to see if they are in line with the constitution and Islamic law.
Posted by Marisol at July 2, 2008 2:54 PM
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Is this Islam or Islamofascism?
I'm a little bit confused...
Posted by: Ynkedoodl![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jihadwatch.org/dhimmiwatch/nav-commenters.gif)
at July 2, 2008 4:20 PM
Iranian parliament considers death penalty for encouraging apostasy from Islam and other means of "harming mental security in society" over the Internet.
Seems like "harming mental security in society" is the main function of their government. So, when will their parliament commit mass suicide? Oh that's right: centrifuges, enrichment, a-bomb.
Never mind.
Posted by: RalphInfidel at July 2, 2008 4:26 PM
"Is this Islam or Islamofascism?"
Ynkedoodl
It is simply ISLAM causing ISLAMophobia
Posted by: getrealnow4 at July 2, 2008 4:36 PM
What would be the effect(s) if each of us, in our posts or comments, listed 5 or more Islamic/Muslim incidents or speeches that illustrate why more and more people are becoming apprehensive about Islam and its tenants?
Will publicizing ISLAMophobic inducing behavior by Muslims clear the air of their smoke screen(s)? By criticizing their actions, deeds, and words we might be able to circumvent their veil of religious persecution.
Posted by: getrealnow4 at July 2, 2008 4:46 PM
This illustrates the Mullahs know how powerful the internet can be as a weapon to harm Islam, and how the whole facility of freedom to speak, write and film all kinds of things can undermine and hollow out the repulsive cult of Islam. Of course they betray their desperation with those attempts to muzzle any brave enough to defy the threats and reveal the awful truth. But hopefully the war of words between truth and propaganda will result in the collapse of Islam eventually, as really, after violence and coercion fails to stop the truth getting out, there is nothing left to shore up the cult; no arguments left, nothing but lies, absurdity, fear and loathing.
In the meantime, though, there is still a way to go before we get to that point; eg:
Melvin Bragg and some academics spent 45 minutes on BBC radio 4 the other day on giving a partial account of the spread of early Islam, which can be heard here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/history/inourtime/inourtime.shtml
If only Robert had been on this show...
If you want to leave comments it seems the only place to do so is a little used site, linked to at bottom right, called 'after our time'
Posted by: StephenA55 at July 2, 2008 5:02 PM
Allah is afraid of the internet. What an awesome "god".
I pray that the Persians will rise up and reject the islamism that has been forced upon them.
They have such a rich past and have made huge contributions to human society pre-1979 and pre-Dhimmi Carter.
Their future is in their hands. Let's hope that the Persians will reach out to their heritage, reject islamism, reject the mullahs, and return to their pre-islamic roots...
No islam
Know peace
at July 2, 2008 5:34 PM
To quote a famous television figure: "Super sweet.":)
So, if I learn Farsi, get the appropriate keyboard, programs, whatever, I can go to an Iranian blog, preach the Bible and be condemned for apostasy? I love it. Does Rosetta Stone offer a Farsi learning program?lol
Posted by: Kevin at July 2, 2008 6:34 PM
establishing weblogs and sites promoting corruption, prostitution and apostasy", which is a new addition to crimes punishable by death.
hmm i wounder if they are going to try to convict robert in abstemia for promoting apostasy because of JW
at July 2, 2008 9:02 PM
Correction to the link given above about the BBC discussion of early Islam [in our time], should be:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/history/inourtime/inourtime_20080626.shtml
Also the place to leave comments is, obviously, the 'have your say' button.
at July 3, 2008 8:31 AM
Does Rosetta Stone offer a Farsi learning program?lolKevinPosted by: Kevin
Yep! And Arabic too.
Posted by: Infidel Pride at July 5, 2008 5:10 AM
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