Sunday, November 2, 2008

Rape victim, age 13, stoned to death for having sex

I could not have picked a more horrifying, tragic example to prove the point of my last three blogs (part 1, part 2, conclusion). WARNING: The details that follow are very disturbing.

Aisha, a 13 year old girl in Somalia, reported being raped to the Shabab Milita (sometimes called the "Somali Taliban") who control her town. Instead of receiving their sympathy and support, the girl was convicted of having sex outside of marriage, and sentenced to death by stoning.

Thousands of people crowded into the local stadium to witness the execution. A hole was dug in the ground, and the girl was buried up to her neck. Then about fifty men started stoning her, throwing rocks at her head, to kill her. After a while, she was dug up, and nurses were called in to verify that she was dead. When they discovered that she was not, the girl was buried again, and the stoning continued.

At some point, it was too much for the crowd, and they stormed down from the stadium bleachers to try to stop the horrifying execution. The military opened fire on the mob, and a young boy was killed by their gunfire. The 50 men finally completed their task; the young girl was dead.

As for the three rapists, they have nothing to fear. No arrests have been made, and apparently there is no expectation that they ever will be brought to justice.

Violence is part of our genetic makeup, our animal heritage, but as my three-part blog series tries to show, we have the ability to be ethically advanced. As rational, thinking beings, we can recognize the good parts of our instincts, such as love, marriage, children, and family. We can also recognize that some instincts, such as violence, murder and war, are no longer useful nor moral, and we can leave these things behind us in history.

But as long as outdated and immoral religious laws are followed and revered, young girls like the poor, dead Somoli, just barely a teenager, will face the horrors of rape, only to be murdered when they seek help.

Those of you, Christians, Jews, or Muslims, who think you are exempt, and try to say, "That's not MY religion," need to go back and reread your holy books. It IS your religion. YOU are the problem, because YOU don't see that your holy writings are nothing more than outdated stories, that should have been left behind long ago.



19 comments:

  1. I do worry when I encounter these 'god heads'. I take a rational view of the world, I can see little value in adopting 'mystical beliefs' other than it serves a purpose of maintaining superstitious behaviour.

    What purpose could there have been in murdering a 13yr old child?
    The reinforcement of male hegemony, and normalising abusive sexual practice?
    The appeasing of god(s)?

    Would this have occurred in a secular culture (the murder of the 13yr old by the authorities, not the rape)?

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  2. Craig,

    Your reasoning is entirely fallacious. Please demonstrate where a follower of Christ who is under the new covenant is commanded or expected to stone anyone.

    Also, given atheism, please prove how you can call any action "bad" or "good" in an objective way.

    Lastly, please demonstrate why your version of morality should be followed and why the Somali Taliban's version should not.

    Try not to beg the question.

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  3. //But as long as outdated and immoral religious laws are followed and revered, young girls like the poor, dead Somoli, just barely a teenager, will face the horrors of rape, only to be murdered when they seek help.//

    Part of the problem here, as with most of these stories, is that the religious law wasn't followed at all. The laws of Islam are bad enough on their own, but it's even worse when people can't be bothered to follow them, which is the case in almost every stoning, lashing, or other sort of story that we hear about here in the West. Any regular Muslim worth his or her salt can break down exactly where and how the law wasn't followed here -- starting with the fact that there is absolutely no punishment for the victim of a rape in Shariah. So, as in pretty much any other country where they appear, these "religious" militia groups didn't even really follow the Shariah that they claim to be bringing to the people.

    Muslims, and those of us who have to live in Muslim countries for work or other purposes, face two problems. The first is that Muslims cling to extremely outdated interpretations of the primary sources. In a lot of cases, the fact that it's a 1000 year old interpretation doesn't matter -- after all, there is no more modern way to do ritual washing. However, in cases like this and finance and other areas, it does matter that the overwhelming majority of Muslims cling to interpretations laid out 1000 years ago by a bunch of Arab and Persian men.

    The second problem is the fact that Muslim societies, particularly in the Middle East, are intellectually stagnant and the people live under the burden of dictatorship and Kafka-esque bureaucracies. I just spent the past few years living and working over there. What we really have is barely controlled chaos. There is only the illusion of a civil society there, for everyone except for the very wealthy. Anyone who comes off as virtuous and religious is automatically afforded credibility and authority by the people; they lose it when they start behaving like idiots (which they inevitably do). In many cases, at least where I lived and experienced life, the religious groups are often upholding cultural values found across religious groups in the country, but they give people a stamp of authenticity by saying "Islam" or "Christianity" even though people know that the practice isn't really a part of the religion or condoned by it.

    Somalia is a country that's been in a virtual state of anarchy for what - 20 yrs? This story pissed me off and saddened me, but it didn't surprise me. We are going to continue hearing these stories until the Muslims of the world get their acts together and clean their shit up.

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  4. There is a way to keep things like this from happening, but America hasn't the desire to make it happen. For a fraction of what we spend trying to maker other countries look more American, we could help fly anyone that wants to come to America here, teach them the language, and turn them into productive Americans fixing the world and our economy at the same time.

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  5. I realize the prior comments are very old and this may not reach the above commenters.....

    The Christian bible does in fact call for stonings for victims of rape... it is classified as premarital sex. The perpetrator and the victim are to be 'taken to the town gate and stoned to death'... read your bible...

    I realize that this is the the Old Testament, but if you are going to follow the 'word of God' and hold the bible as an infallible word of God, then you need to follow it ALL. You cannot pick and choose which of God's words to believe.

    Muslims' religion is not much different than Christians'. The bible was written by a "bunch of Arab and Persian men" just like the Quran was. They both originated in the same part of the world... Amazingly, most all religions have strong parallels because they are all based on some prior beliefs.

    Now, Ryan.... to classify Athiests as immoral or without the ability to tell right from wrong... You are sadly mistaken. Why do you choose to do 'right' or 'not immoral' things in your life? Because you expect to be rewarded for all eternity by some invisible friend who knows everything, but requires our faith in him... OR you do right because you are afraid of Hell....

    Atheists choose their actions carefully because we know that our time to be alive is precious and limited. We know that we want to treat others the way we would like to be treated... We choose morality because we can't be 'saved' after we make a mistake by praying for forgiveness. We CHOOSE because we have free-will and good hearts. How many children are raped by priests, youth pastors, or Sunday school teachers? How many pastors get in trouble for prostitution, gambling, etc?

    Answer this: Why does God need money to give the church if he is all-powerful? Couldn't he just conjure up what his 'flock' needs?

    The answer is that the money that is tithed is given to those that will squander it on fancy suits, jewelry, cars, fancy houses, and trips. Religious people are the most corrupt people in the world because they feel that they can pray and their sins will be absolved.....

    Atheists are moral because we CHOOSE to be.

    Most Atheists are not anarchists.... Not all Christian folk are Godly. Keep that in mind before you lump everyone into one stereotype.

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  6. Another thing to add... the reason that our societies are different (Muslim vs. America) is because their religious clerics are not held accountable for their actions as they are here in America. We 'evolved' into the society we are because of tolerance and laws... not religion.

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  7. Ryan, The OT is full of instances of child stoning and child rape by the precious 'chosen'. Jesus upheld every ridiculous law of the OT and came to fulfill them! In the NT he says that a child who fails to care for parents should die. In todays world if that law applied there would be many people facing death row.

    That being said, anyone who can read of a child being raped and then stoned by goddamn savages and justify it is not only a lunatic but dangerous. Are you hooked on the word 'demonstrate' or is it the only word you know with more than five letters?

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  8. Wow that is so sad, and so tragic. this is where the US should concentrate its effort! Not in places like Iraq and Afghanistan where they do not belong!

    Jess
    www.web-anonymity.de.tcwaski

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  9. Annoyed Reader - You're the one missing the point. This sort of behavior is described in a number of places in YOUR holy book. Christians, Jews and Muslims try to claim otherwise, but the simple fact is that stoning is encouraged in the holy texts of all three Abrahamic religions. When some men in Somolia take it seriously, you pretend it's not your religion. And it may not be, surely most civilized people are horrified by this stoning. The question is, why are none of you repudiating your holy books, and leaving your religions behind? Belief in God is one thing, but why is everyone so loyal to these outdated, immoral "holy" books that endorse cruelty?

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  10. I welcome comments, but crude vulgar insults are deleted. Anon, if you want to say something, try to do it with a bit more class.

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  11. The world would be a much better place if religion did not exist. Morality comes from empathy, which is a natural occurrence in higher-functioning mammals. Godfear is a major opponent of empathy and true remorse. So please, Everyone, do the world a favor and burn down a church or at least destroy a bible! Thanks!!! and f_ck your god :)

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  12. Amen.

    The question is which world we WANT to live in. My ideal goes along the lines of Kant's imperative, "Act [in such a way that it wouldn't bother you if] it should become a universal law", i.e. "don't do unto others..." etc. etc.

    Works fine without any God. He cut himself with Occam's razor... ;-)

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  13. Rape is a horrible crime. Societies and belief systems that promote it should be brought to account.

    While we find tragic examples of abuse in the name of religion, such as you have reported here, there is another quasi-religion (Gender Feminism) that supports, through changes in the laws in English-speaking countries in the past two decades, the vilification of men, young boys, and some women (mostly teachers). The changes in the law enable (with little or no penalty on the part of the accuser) false accusations of rape and sexual assault. It is no wonder that men and women being released by Innocence Projects around the country were imprisoned on false sexual abuse claims.

    The issue of false rape claims is discussed in detail at: http://falserapesociety.blogspot.com

    For a primer:
    http://falserapearchives.blogspot.com/2010/01/false-rape-primer.html

    Men and Women both are victims of false accusations sexual assault. It is a civil and human rights issue.

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  14. Jesus did not come to abolish the old law.

    What the Bible says about stoning

    Everybody must get stoned.......

    For touching Mount Sinai

    Whosoever toucheth the mount shall be surely put to death. Exodus 19:13

    For taking "accursed things"

    Achan ... took of the accursed thing. ... And all Israel stoned him with stones, and burned them with fire, after they had stoned them with stones. ... So the LORD turned from the fierceness of his anger. Joshua 7:1-26

    For cursing or blaspheming

    And he that blasphemeth the name of the LORD, he shall surely be put to death, and all the congregation shall certainly stone him. Leviticus 24:16

    For adultery (including urban rape victims who fail to scream loud enough)

    If a damsel that is a virgin be betrothed unto an husband, and a man find her in the city, and lie with her; Then ye shall bring them both out unto the gate of that city, and ye shall stone them with stones that they die; the damsel, because she cried not, being in the city. Deuteronomy 22:23-24

    For animals (like an ox that gores a human)

    If an ox gore a man or a woman, that they die: then the ox shall be surely stoned. Exodus 21:28

    For a woman who is not a virgin on her wedding night

    If any man take a wife, and go in unto her, and hate her ... and say, I took this woman, and when I came to her, I found her not a maid: Then shall the father of the damsel, and her mother, take and bring forth the tokens of the damsel's virginity unto the elders of the city in the gate: And the damsel's father shall say ... these are the tokens of my daughter's virginity. And they shall spread the cloth before the elders of the city. ... But if this thing be true, and the tokens of virginity be not found for the damsel: Then they shall bring out the damsel to the door of her father's house, and the men of her city shall stone her with stones that she die. Deuteronomy 22:13-21

    For worshipping other gods

    If there be found among you ... that ... hath gone and served other gods, and worshipped them ... Then shalt thou ... tone them with stones, till they die. Deuteronomy 17:2-5

    If thy brother, the son of thy mother, or thy son, or thy daughter, or the wife of thy bosom, or thy friend, which is as thine own soul, entice thee secretly, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which thou hast not known, thou, nor thy fathers ... thou shalt stone him with stones, that he die. Deuteronomy 13:5-10

    For disobeying parents

    If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother ... Then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out unto the elders of his city ... And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard. And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die. Deuteronomy 21:18-21

    For witches and wizards

    A man also or woman that hath a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones: their blood shall be upon them. Leviticus 20:27

    For giving your children to Molech

    Whosoever ... giveth any of his seed unto Molech; he shall surely be put to death: the people of the land shall stone him with stones. Leviticus 20:2

    For breaking the Sabbath

    They found a man that gathered sticks upon the sabbath day. ... And the LORD said unto Moses, The man shall be surely put to death: all the congregation shall stone him with stones.... And all the congregation brought him without the camp, and stoned him with stones, and he died; as the LORD commanded Moses. Numbers 15:32-56

    For cursing the king

    Thou didst blaspheme God and the king. And then carry him out, and stone him, that he may die. 1 Kings 21:10

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  15. Mohammad borrowed a lot form the Bible

    What the Bible says about Rape

    City Rape

    If a damsel that is a virgin be betrothed unto an husband, and a man find her in the city, and lie with her; Then ye shall bring them both out unto the gate of that city, and ye shall stone them with stones that they die; the damsel, because she cried not, being in the city. -- Deuteronomy 22:23-24

    Country Rape

    But if a man find a betrothed damsel in the field, and the man force her, and lie with her: then the man only that lay with her shall die. ... For he found her in the field, and the betrothed damsel cried, and there was none to save her. -- Deuteronomy 22:25-27

    Of an unbetrothed virgin

    If a man find a damsel that is a virgin, which is not betrothed, and lay hold on her, and lie with her, and they be found; Then the man that lay with her shall give unto the damsel's father fifty shekels of silver, and she shall be his wife; because he hath humbled her, he may not put her away all his days. -- Deuteronomy 22:28-29

    Of prisoners of war

    And Moses said unto them, Have ye saved all the women alive? ... Now therefore kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman that hath known man by lying with him. But all the women children, that have not known a man by lying with him, keep alive for yourselves. -- Numbers 31:15-18

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  16. Is anyone even remotely surprised that her rapists will get away with their crime? The only reason they allowed for stonings of rape victims under the guise of 'adultery' is so that the men can do whatever the fuck they like in their backwards, batshit crazy society. Not that the Bible is any better.

    "Your reasoning is entirely fallacious. Please demonstrate where a follower of Christ who is under the new covenant is commanded or expected to stone anyone."

    It's painfully obvious that you've never read the Bible, specifically Deuteronomy 22:23-24, as has already been pointed out.

    You know, I think a lot of followers of the Middle Eastern religions would stop being religious if they actually read their damn 'holy' books and saw how much vile injustice is within them.

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  17. outdated stories that unfortunatly still have a hugh impact.

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  18. Moronic fairy stories in the bible , the koran and the talmud should be seen as the fictions they are, To all you true believers who think you will find paradise when you die, you wont be dissapointed, indeed you wont be anything at all, except dead of course, you will cease to feel pain anguish or fear, as well as love, compasion and hope, as all these things depend upon you being alive and aware.

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  19. no you guys reread the bible there is more to that then what you guys said and i am a christen.You made a big mistake to kill the child.It the rapeist and his you should have killed.

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