Saudi court rules: Paralyze man who crippled another

Saudi court rules: Paralyze man who crippled another
'Eye-for-eye' verdict stirs outrage
By Ashish Kumar Sen

The Washington Times
9:06 p.m., Monday, August 23, 2010

A Saudi Arabian court has ruled that a convicted man's spinal cord should be severed so he is paralyzed as part of the kingdom's Islamic-law-oriented retribution for similar injuries he is said to have inflicted upon another man in a fight.

The ruling has prompted an outcry from human rights groups and an intervention from Saudi officials who say they are trying to persuade the victim to accept monetary compensation for his injuries instead of the punishment against the criminal.

According to reports from Saudi Arabia, the court in Tabuk, on the northwest coast of the kingdom, has approached a number of hospitals about the possibility of cutting the convicted man's spinal cord.

So far at least two hospitals have refused to carry out the procedure, citing ethical concerns.

In the Saudi justice system, the court establishes guilt and the family of the victim or the victim himself has the option of inflicting the same injury upon the guilty party, seeking blood money or offering a pardon.

"The sentence of 'an eye for an eye' has always been in conflict with medical ethics," said Christoph Wilcke, a senior researcher for Saudi Arabia at Human Rights Watch, adding, "This case is a new angle in the sense that doctors are speaking out."

When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength. A fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be on the earth.

"My punishment is greater than I can bear.

Behold, Thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth, and from Thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond on the earth. And it shall come to pass that every one who findeth me shall slay me."

"... whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold." [/size]

Ye have heard that it hath been said, `An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.'

But I say unto you that ye resist not evil, but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.

Ye have heard that it hath been said, `Thou shalt love thy neighbor and hate thine enemy.'

But I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that despitefully use you and persecute you, that ye may be the children of your Father who is in Heaven. For He maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

Then Peter came to Him and said, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Until seven times?"

And Jesus said unto him, "I say not unto thee until seven times, but until seventy times seven...."

Recompense no man evil for evil ... live peaceably with all men.

Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath; for it is written: "Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, saith the Lord."

Therefore: "If thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink. For in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.

Owen 16 wrote:Not surprising at all, IT. We may try to be Christ-like, but revenge is a very human emotion. Rare is the human who can always forego revenge; indeed rare is the human who can often forego revenge. It's in us.

Doc Trock wrote:

Owen 16 wrote:Not surprising at all, IT. We may try to be Christ-like, but revenge is a very human emotion. Rare is the human who can always forego revenge; indeed rare is the human who can often forego revenge. It's in us.

I know many people who would like to do this and more to muslims....just because they're muslim. It's a good thing we have laws that were written by sane people, long ago.