In Iran, Pre-Teen Girls Are Raped Before They're Executed

There are currently 134 minors on death row in Tehran where a vast array of crimes "against religion" qualify for capital punishment.  Girls as young as nine-year-old girls are held legally responsible for their actions while boys are not held accountable until they reach the age of thirteen.  In Iran, the suffering of prepubescent females on death row isn't limited to the hangman's noose.

During a telephone interview with the Jerusalem Post, a member of the powerful Basiji militia admitted that his duties included raping children before they were executed.  Under Sharia Law, virgins cannot be executed, so they're coerced into marrying their jailers prior to being killed. 

Sabina Amidid spoke with the Basiji soldier on condition of anonymity:  He said he had been a highly regarded member of the force, and had so "impressed my superiors" that, at 18, "I was given the 'honor' to temporarily marry young girls before they were sentenced to death."

In the Islamic Republic it is illegal to execute a young woman, regardless of her crime, if she is a virgin, he explained. Therefore a "wedding" ceremony is conducted the night before the execution: The young girl is forced to have sexual intercourse with a prison guard - essentially raped by her "husband." '

When the man expressed regret over his actions, Amidid asked him why... 

"Because," he went on, "I could tell that the girls were more afraid of their 'wedding' night than of the execution that awaited them in the morning. And they would always fight back, so we would have to put sleeping pills in their food. By morning the girls would have an empty expression; it seemed like they were ready or wanted to die.  I remember hearing them cry and scream after [the rape] was over."

This is incredibly inhumane, even by Middle Eastern standards.  And it further demonstrates the suffering of women in places where Islamic fundamentalists hold sway.  Maybe I'm naive, but I simply can't understand why "enlightened" Western nations would have ANY diplomatic ties to a country this barbaric.  And the government we're leaving behind in Iraq isn't much better.

Related Story:  For Gays Under Islamic Rule: Living Hell (or a Bloody Execution)

Comments

[Aggie]

... or the government we put in place in Afghanistan, or with our Saudi allies (cough), or our friends in Egypt, or Pakistan, or... well, you get the idea.

[Bee Girl]

This turns my stomach. And what sort of crime would a girl that young be able to commit?

[Shannon]

Hey, but at least they hold elections! (Sarcasm)

[Mike]

The "crime" that I'm sure many of these young girls committed was probably only a crime under so-called "Sharia Law" (boy, that's an oxymoron). They were probably out without an older brother/uncle/father, or maybe they're the children of "adulteresses" who were themselves raped.
In other words, they have most likely done nothing wrong, unless you are blinded by some idiotic religion.

[4dam]

The religion of peace.

[Potsos]

Yet another reason to keep the Church far, FAR away from State. This is what theocracy brings. Unfortunately, now that Iraq's oil is secured, the US government is no longer interested in the affairs of Iraqi citizens. Thanks for the drive through, now good luck.

[TheGodlessSwami]

This is what our dependence on oil does... we must choose between dialogue with a nation whose prison system requires child rape or "raping" the ANWR for oil... neither of which is a particularly appetizing option, the former being viscerally disgusting and the latter being morally reprehensible...
btw - according to "Sharia" law, a girl becomes of age and "marriageable" at menarche, which can occur as early as 9 while boys become of age at teenaged adolescence - 13...

[andrea unger]

For anyone that doesn't believe that evil exists,this is prove that it does.When i think of the horrors carried out towards children(and Women,Men,Animals),I have to grab my paxil,I'm already depressed...I can't imagine the sadism these young women have to endure because of the culture of Psychopaths they are ruled by.It makes me cry.

[Glenn]

This is not limited to Islamic religions this happens when fundamentalist of any religion have complete power in a country.

[t.rex]

This is what happens when you allow RELIGION and religious leaders to dictate LAW.All organized religions should have their ruling bodies rounded up and summarily executed for crimes against man.And I DO mean ALL religions, none are blameless in the perpetuation of various atrocities such as this.The Christian faith has committed atrocities just as bad as this (Spanish inquisition or Salem witch trials anybody?)

[alice]

It shows a strange commitment to legalism rather than to the idea of the law.

[Lorna]

Why do we thing religion in North America....is any better...we have some outrages people who say things that should never be said...all to earn money for their pocket....It's shocking that a religion who says they are for peace...can inflick such pain and suffering on a child....however if we are not careful...with the anti abortion laws that are coming....our grand daughters will not be treated much better...we murder people in the name of religion...as I listen to the news...I see our freedom slowly being taken away from us...and we do nothing....perhaps we should clean our own backyard first...Poor little girls.