|
Post by jim_s on Sept 3, 2009 18:03:12 GMT
From an interview with Ahmadinejad's spiritual advisor at www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/133214:So my question is this: is there anything similar to this in the history of Christianity? Of a spiritual leader claiming that canon law or something similar allows for the rape of women, men, and children? In fact, is there anything like this in the history of any living religion? (I know you could bring up horror stories from the Aztecs and the like.)
|
|
|
Post by bjorn on Sept 3, 2009 18:15:39 GMT
No, nothing in Christianity - definitely not.
And I don't really think there are anything like this in Islam - I am rather doubtfull about this interview. Seems more like pornography than professional journalism.
However, there is (or was) at least one dysfunctional tribal culture where gang rape of the bride on the wedding night was traditional. Did not do much good for fertility in the tribe.
|
|
|
Post by noons on Sept 3, 2009 18:50:44 GMT
I saw its Israel National News. I read another story on militaryphotos.net, from the Jerusalem Post about prison guards marrying and raping virgin prsioners on the night before execution, because according to Sharia Law a virgin cannot be executed. However, it came from an anonymous source who said he is a former Iranian prison guard. So basically, any of these kinds of stories coming from an anonymous source should be taken with a heavy dose of salt.
In the same article, an Iranian cleric denied the practice because according to Sharia Law, both families must agree to a marriage, and it is doubtful any family would agree their daughter to be married just so she could be raped and killed.
|
|
|
Post by James Hannam on Sept 3, 2009 21:10:33 GMT
I heard this from a story in the latest issue of Standpoint and also didn't think it rung true. Perhaps further investigation will reveal the facts.
Best wishes
James
|
|
|
Post by eckadimmock on Sept 4, 2009 0:24:09 GMT
|
|
|
Post by bjorn on Sept 4, 2009 10:20:39 GMT
For a somewhat extended discussion about this, see the comments to www.answeringmuslims.com/2009/09/shia-cleric-explains-lawful-use-of-rape.htmlTo the degree that this may have any merit at all, it seems like a case of Vilayat-e-Faqih (alt. Velayat Faqih) - or "mullahcracy" - and forms the basis of the constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guardianship_of_the_Islamic_jurists. This makes it possible to make new decrees about almost anything as long as it in some way is related to the Koran, the Prophet's traditions or the teachings of the Twelve Imams. So if rape suits the purpose (e.g. to make sure those sentenced ot death are not virgins), it may be legally allowed. And as legal matters in Islam is hard to distinguish from religious, it may in a certain sense (with some carefull qualifications I would think) be said to be "islamic".
|
|
|
Post by jim_s on Sept 4, 2009 13:07:58 GMT
I hope this story is bogus. I thought it sounded plausible, given previous news that a) Iranian dissidents are being torture-raped, and that b) Iran is heavily steeped in Shi'ite theology. So it seemed to me that they had to find some way to make room for the former in the latter. But again, I really hope I'm wrong.
|
|
|
Post by jim_s on Sept 7, 2009 12:28:04 GMT
|
|