A teenage boy was publicly hanged after being convicted of killing an athlete billed as 'Iran's strongest man'.

Despite calls from Amnesty International for an 11th-hour stay of the 17-year-old's execution, Alireza Molla-Soltani was sent to the gallows at the scene of the crime in the city of Karaj, west of the capital.

A large crowd of people had gathered to witness the hanging and security forces were present 'to ensure the sentence was carried out without any glitches,' the official IRNA news agency reported.

'Iran's strongest man' Ruhollah Dadashi (pictured) was stabbed to death in July, and the 17-year-old responsible has been executed. The teenager said at his trial he had killed only in self-defence after a driving dispute with Dadashi

The boy was said to have cried and begged forgiveness before he was put to death.

Molla-Soltani was sentenced to death last month for stabbing the popular athlete, Ruhollah Dadashi, to death in mid-July.

The teenager said at his trial he had killed only in self-defence after a driving dispute led him and two other youths into a confrontation with Dadashi, according to Amnesty.

A spokesman for the prosecution, Ali Ramezanmanesh said the boy had reached 'religious maturity' and was over 18 years of age.

'The law views religious maturity as its criterion which is calculated according to the lunar calendar, therefore the convict is over 18 and there are no legal impediments' in the way of the hanging, he told Fars news agency.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2040041/Alireza-Molla-Soltani-execution-Teenager-publicly-hanged-killing-Irans-strongest-man.html#ixzz1YfWVUqSf

This is a particularly sad story.

I am not a big fan of the death penalty. Giving to teenagers seems particularly horrible.

There are a lot of victims--a dead man and now a dead young man and all the family members.

If it was truely self-defence, it was a miscarriage of justice. If he stabbed a man to death for trivial reasons, I will shed no tears for him.

The death penalty can never be justified, as one can never be 100% sure that there hasn't been some sort of error.

Any country that has the death penalty is simply uncivilised.

It's a slight misnomer to call it a "hanging" which implies, in the west at least, a quick drop, a broken neck and almost instant death. What they do in Iran is to tie the victim to a mobile crane and hoist them into the air so that they strangle. They take several minutes to die. They turn blue. They piss and shit their pants. This method of execution was phased out in the UK in 1872.

The death penalty can never be justified, as one can never be 100% sure that there hasn't been some sort of error.

Any country that has the death penalty is simply uncivilised.

Do you feel a maximum 21 year sentence is appropriate punishment for Anders Breivik?

The death penalty can never be justified, as one can never be 100% sure that there hasn't been some sort of error.

Any country that has the death penalty is simply uncivilised.

Do you feel a maximum 21 year sentence is appropriate punishment for Anders Breivik?

No, I think he needs to be shut up for life .... because he's mad as a hatter. I agree with Darrel that the death penalty can never be justified, especially for the mentally disturbed.

The death penalty can never be justified, as one can never be 100% sure that there hasn't been some sort of error.

In that case no one should ever be prosecuted for anything.

Ted Bundy and other serial killers deserve death and considerering what they have done to numerous innocent people and their families, they are getting off lightly.

The death penalty can never be justified, as one can never be 100% sure that there hasn't been some sort of error.

Any country that has the death penalty is simply uncivilised.

Do you feel a maximum 21 year sentence is appropriate punishment for Anders Breivik?

No, I think he needs to be shut up for life .... because he's mad as a hatter. I agree with Darrel that the death penalty can never be justified, especially for the mentally disturbed.

I don't recall reading where this 17 year old boy was mentally disturbed. Did I miss something?

If Troy Davis had murdered the policeman in Norway, he would be free now...and the policeman would still be dead.

Iran is Sharia on steroids.

I don't recall reading where this 17 year old boy was mentally disturbed. Did I miss something?

If Troy Davis had murdered the policeman in Norway, he would be free now...and the policeman would still be dead.

Iran is Sharia on steroids.

I don't think anybody has ever said that the 17-year-old boy was mentally disturbed. According to the report, he killed in self-defence, which would not attract a death penalty in any Western country (or country which has adopted a Western legal system).

Shariah law is a mediaeval legal code wherever it is applied; mankind ought to have grown up a bit since then.

As this thread is now about the death penalty in general: There is no justification in killing anybody. Not even when the state does it.

As this thread is now about the death penalty in general: There is no justification in killing anybody. Not even when the state does it.

Would you protect your own life with lethal force?

As this thread is now about the death penalty in general: There is no justification in killing anybody. Not even when the state does it.

Would you protect your own life with lethal force?

Good question.

As this thread is now about the death penalty in general: There is no justification in killing anybody. Not even when the state does it.

Would you protect your own life with lethal force?

That would be self-defense. I should have used the word "murder" rather than "killing". I do think that you understood me correctly though, as this is not about semantics but about the meaning. The death penalty is clearly pre-meditated murder, whether legalized or not.

As this thread is now about the death penalty in general: There is no justification in killing anybody. Not even when the state does it.

Would you protect your own life with lethal force?

That would be self-defense. I should have used the word "murder" rather than "killing". I do think that you understood me correctly though, as this is not about semantics but about the meaning. The death penalty is clearly pre-meditated murder, whether legalized or not.

Now I understand. You really didn't mean to say what you said.

Murderers....serial rapists paedophiles.....DNA evidence.....multiple victims testimony....proved beyond reasonable doubt....hang 'em I say!

Preferably in the town square so the other sickos can go and watch....and learn.

Murderers....serial rapists paedophiles.....DNA evidence.....multiple victims testimony....proved beyond reasonable doubt....hang 'em I say!

Preferably in the town square so the other sickos can go and watch....and learn.

I remember watching this on TV back in 1985

The father whose son had been kidnapped & sexually assaulted by his karate teacher was being taken to jail.

The father was waiting to administer justice.

I remember thinking good job....

Originally from

Baton Rouge, La., Jody made national headlines in March 1984 when he was

abducted by his karate teacher and taken to Los Angeles, Ca. FBI officials

rescued Jody and his abductor was arrested. Upon his karate teacher’s return

to Baton Rouge, La., Jody’s father, Gary Plauche’, in front of a local television

camera, shot and killed the man who kidnapped and sexually molested his

son. The sexual abuse had occurred for a period of more than one year."

When I was working in Iran, in the Shah's time, an American girl was assaulted by an Irani pervert. The girl was around ten years old.

The guy was caught, the father was brought in and shut in the cell with the offender for several minutes. The police had previously 'softened-up' their prisoner, so that the father wouldn't encounter much resistance.

Then the trial was started.

Murderers....serial rapists paedophiles.....DNA evidence.....multiple victims testimony....proved beyond reasonable doubt....hang 'em I say!

Preferably in the town square so the other sickos can go and watch....and learn.

I remember watching this on TV back in 1985

The father whose son had been kidnapped & sexually assaulted by his karate teacher was being taken to jail.

The father was waiting to administer justice.

I remember thinking good job....

Originally from

Baton Rouge, La., Jody made national headlines in March 1984 when he was

abducted by his karate teacher and taken to Los Angeles, Ca. FBI officials

rescued Jody and his abductor was arrested. Upon his karate teacher’s return

to Baton Rouge, La., Jody’s father, Gary Plauche’, in front of a local television

camera, shot and killed the man who kidnapped and sexually molested his

son. The sexual abuse had occurred for a period of more than one year."

"Good job"? Wow, someone will need to learn the basics of democracy and the rule of law.

While it may be "understandable" that a father is outraged to the extreme, there was no immediate danger but only the thought of revenge.

I feel scared. I thought this thread was about judges telling that a person has to be murdered for a crime he might have committed, but now you are talking about lynching.

"Good job"? Wow, someone will need to learn the basics of democracy and the rule of law.

While it may be "understandable" that a father is outraged to the extreme, there was no immediate danger but only the thought of revenge.

I feel scared. I thought this thread was about judges telling that a person has to be murdered for a crime he might have committed, but now you are talking about lynching.

Yes good job but if it were me I would have sniped him.

11 year old son sexually assaulted for over a year & kidnapped?

Dr. James L. Brabham reported that the son described how Doucet, the youth's martial-arts instructor, had sexually abused him for months prior to the shooting, telling him "real men don't need women."

Yes I would have sniped him slowly if possible with multiple shots.

Also good job the father was given a suspended sentence & served no time.

So it appears the judge agrees. Because the father pleaded no contest.

Lynching? no lynching refers to a mob justice. This was between the father of the victim & the sick assailant.

No more evidence was needed as there was plenty.

Yes good job

It all sounds a bit Old Testament. The sort of stuff that Jesus let himself be nailed to the carpentry to try and stop.

Live by the nail, die by the nail, I suppose.

Its enough to put you off serving an apprenticeship

SC

It all sounds a bit Old Testament. The sort of stuff that Jesus let himself be nailed to the carpentry to try and stop.

Live by the nail, die by the nail, I suppose.

Its enough to put you off serving an apprenticeship

SC

Not only Old Testament.

All efforts to bring civilisation and democracy to this world seem to have been in vain. Rule of law has been replaced by "shoot the <beep>". I wonder at which school they forget to teach the basics.

It all sounds a bit Old Testament. The sort of stuff that Jesus let himself be nailed to the carpentry to try and stop.

Live by the nail, die by the nail, I suppose.

Its enough to put you off serving an apprenticeship

SC

Not only Old Testament.

All efforts to bring civilisation and democracy to this world seem to have been in vain. Rule of law has been replaced by "shoot the <beep>". I wonder at which school they forget to teach the basics.

Speak for yourself. I'm quite civilised,

and happy

"I'm happy, I'm happy, I'm happy, I'm happy

And I'll punch the man who says I'm not"

Ivor Cutler

SC

Not only Old Testament.

All efforts to bring civilisation and democracy to this world seem to have been in vain. Rule of law has been replaced by "shoot the <beep>". I wonder at which school they forget to teach the basics.

Speak for yourself.

Incidentally, I didn't mean you but was only expanding on your post.

I think judicial torture, vigilante attacks, and mob justice are all further examples of the sort of perverted and out of control violence which animates far too many people in far too many societies. They are really just official expressions of exactly the sort of abusive behaviour and retributive feelings that probably led to the perverse crimes which they are intended to punish, and legitimise by their lack of restraint the continuance of the cycle. Anyone else who experiences bloodlust or joy at the thought of such actions- I will excuse the immediate friends and relatives of the victim for some temptations along this line- probably needs to examine their own history of violence at the hands of family or trusted caretakers, and decide what their projections mean.

If we must have such punishments in our society, they must be done in strict detachment by people who take no joy in their work- but better that they should not be done at all.

Capital punishment is an admission of social failure. If someone's life has become so horrible that he will commit crimes that require his removal from society- through permanent imprisonment (social death) or actual death- that society has failed that person, with the exception of those who have physical or physiological causes for their behaviour which are beyond our technology/medicine to address. I think it is pretty easy, seeing the levels of poverty and abuse, to see the burgeoning prisons as condemnation of society rather than a job well done against crime. I can't say in good conscience that the worst serial killers and psychotics should ever be let free- and if the economic decision argues for slaughtering them rather than paying the bill for their lifetime care, it is yet another kind of failure- but it seems to me if we are ever to understand why such persons exist and how we can avoid the tragedies connecting with producing them (both for them and for their victims), we need them to live- in controlled conditions- to find out why they are how they are, and if there is any way to help them, either now or at some earlier or later stage.

Of course, if someone physically attacks someone else, the victim of the attack should resist. It's only common sense. But to the extent that revenge becomes an obsession, it turns you into an 'attacker', too, only one whose reasons are 'legitimised' by his victimhood. It's frightening to me how many people so easily would allow themselves to undergo that transformation, and explains why all of our societies have so far been failures. The project of eliminating these patterns is too big for politics alone to handle, so it co-opts these methods for itself, reflecting our broken societies.

Not only Old Testament.

All efforts to bring civilisation and democracy to this world seem to have been in vain. Rule of law has been replaced by "shoot the <beep>". I wonder at which school they forget to teach the basics.

Speak for yourself.

Incidentally, I didn't mean you but was only expanding on your post.

My apologies. So often we don;t look for common ground, and instead seek conflict.

No, we do.

Years ago, a colleague said to me

"Instead of starting every sentence "No, but..." start "Yes, and..." and then carry on with exactly what you intended to say."

It was a step too far for an argumentative bastard like me, but I could see that if I was willing to compromise my principles, it could be beneficial.

SC

Not only Old Testament.

All efforts to bring civilisation and democracy to this world seem to have been in vain. Rule of law has been replaced by "shoot the <beep>". I wonder at which school they forget to teach the basics.

Speak for yourself.

Incidentally, I didn't mean you but was only expanding on your post.

My apologies. So often we don;t look for common ground, and instead seek conflict.

No, we do.

Years ago, a colleague said to me

"Instead of starting every sentence "No, but..." start "Yes, and..." and then carry on with exactly what you intended to say."

It was a step too far for an argumentative bastard like me, but I could see that if I was willing to compromise my principles, it could be beneficial.

SC

Apology accepted.

If someone's life has become so horrible that he will commit crimes that require his removal from society- through permanent imprisonment (social death) or actual death- that society has failed that person, with the exception of those who have physical or physiological causes for their behaviour which are beyond our technology/medicine to address.

... but it seems to me if we are ever to understand why such persons exist and how we can avoid the tragedies connecting with producing them (both for them and for their victims), we need them to live- in controlled conditions- to find out why they are how they are, and if there is any way to help them, either now or at some earlier or later stage.

Surely this turns on whether you believe evil exists in this world as a tool of Satan.

Some people are good, some evil, the majority in-between.

But pure evil does exist.

If someone's life has become so horrible that he will commit crimes that require his removal from society- through permanent imprisonment (social death) or actual death- that society has failed that person, with the exception of those who have physical or physiological causes for their behaviour which are beyond our technology/medicine to address.

... but it seems to me if we are ever to understand why such persons exist and how we can avoid the tragedies connecting with producing them (both for them and for their victims), we need them to live- in controlled conditions- to find out why they are how they are, and if there is any way to help them, either now or at some earlier or later stage.

Surely this turns on whether you believe evil exists in this world as a tool of Satan.

Some people are good, some evil, the majority in-between.

But pure evil does exist.

There is always a reason why people commit crimes, even though we may not be able to see what the reason is. By retributive justice (execution, even imprisonment), we are dealing with the crime after it has been committed; we are not tackling the causes of that crime. This gives us a sense of satisfaction ("He won't do it again"), but it does nothing to stop other people committing the same or similar crimes. Deterrents rarely work for the same reason; they don't tackle the reason behind the action.

I don't believe anybody is purely evil. People become evil rather like people get cancer; their minds start to go wrong just as the cancerous body goes wrong, and eventually evil/cancer takes over. Cancer kills the host body; I suspect evil kills the host mind. Personify evil as Satan if you like.

Another fine example of Iranian justice at work...

______________________________________________________

Execution Looms for Iranian Pastor Who Refuses to Renounce His Christian Faith

By Patrick Goodenough

September 27, 2011

(CNSNews.com) – An Iranian pastor who refuses to renounce his Christian faith could be hanged as soon as Wednesday, after a trial court ruling this week upheld his death sentence for “apostasy.”

Religious freedom advocates are calling urgently for governments to take up the case of Youcef Nadarkhani, a 32-year-old evangelical first sentenced to death late last year. If the sentence is carried out he will be the first Iranian Christian known to have been executed for his faith in 21 years.

Read more here: http://cnsnews.com/news/article/execution-looms-iranian-pastor-who-refuses-renounce-his-christian-faith