Stoning
Stoning is a form of capital punishment that was in use in the ancient Middle East and discussed in the Bible under the law presented in the Torah. Stonings are still occasionally carried out in some countries, like Iran and Somalia.
In the New Testament, Jesus showed a different way when the Pharisees brought him a woman that should have been stoned under the law, but Jesus responded "Let he who is without sin throw the first stone." When her accusers left, Jesus would not condemn her either and told her "Sin no more" (however, the provenance of this passage is disputed - see Disputed Biblical Translations).
Stonings are still occasionally carried out in Islamic countries. In Iran, stoning is used for men and women convicted of adultery.[1] In Somalia, even 13-year-old girls who have been raped can be accused of adultery and stoned.[2] The Kurds of northern Iraq use stoning to carry out the barbaric practice of honor killing.[3]
References
- ↑ FOX News: Iran says death by stoning sentence for woman convicted of adultery under review (July 10, 2010)
- ↑ FOX News: Amnesty International Denounces Stoning Death of 13-Year-Old Somali Girl (November 2, 2008)
- ↑ FOX News: Video Surfaces Showing Kurdish Girl Stoned to Death for Relationship With Iraqi Sunni Boy (May 4, 2007)