July 22, 2005

Two Gay Teens Hanged in Iran

I'm rather at a loss for words about this. Of course Iran isn't the only place on Earth where you can be killed for being gay. Far from it. But it's still rather striking to see the killings formally carried out by government authorities. One group claims that 4,000 Iranians have been executed for homosexuality since the Iranian revolution.

Posted by armand at July 22, 2005 01:44 PM | Posted to International Affairs


Comments

What's most striking here is that these are just KIDS...I wish that the mainstream American news had the balls to talk about this stuff. I'm sure I won't hear about this on CNN. Maybe Falwell calling for laws like those here...

Posted by: ryan at July 22, 2005 02:48 PM | PERMALINK

Falwell? Well, a lot of people on the far right (as well as some other) were outraged by that recent US Supreme Court decision holding that it was unconstitutional to execute people under 18 ....

Posted by: Armand at July 22, 2005 02:53 PM | PERMALINK

Why did you turn this about Falwell?

This about gay and lesbian people who have been killed by the thousands in Iran and other countries that practice strict Islamic sharia law. This week two men were sentenced to death in Nigeria for the same thing. Islamic facists are 100 times worse for gays, then that old fool Falwell.

This is 100 times worse. This is a true injustice against gay people.

Posted by: gay_warrior at July 23, 2005 06:49 AM | PERMALINK

I strongly agree. What states like Nigeria and Iran are doing is horrifying. I was just passing along a thought that came to mind after reading the first comment.

Though of course just because he's not openly calling for the execution of gay teens these days, well, that doesn't excuse the loathsome and harmful things Falwell has done.

Posted by: Armand at July 23, 2005 12:07 PM | PERMALINK

Ok but these two were not having homo sex with each other. Apparently these two "kids" had sexualy assaulted a 13 year old boy. Quiet frankly if anyone, minor or not, was to sexually assualt one of my sons, I would have no problem watchin them swing!

Posted by: Jeremy at July 26, 2005 08:54 AM | PERMALINK

Jeremy,

Do you have a cite for the charge that the two were "sexually assalting a 13-year old"? I have not seen that anywhere in the news.

In any event, if their "punishment" was different than a heterosexual who was accused (were they convicted?) of sexual assault on a minor, it's still discrimination. Rule of Law, and all that.

Posted by: baltar at July 26, 2005 09:39 AM | PERMALINK

The facts surrounding the conviction and execution of the two young men has been considerably muddied. The original information that came from the Iranian government was that they had been convicted by a religious court of homosexuality, which is punishable by death (though reports say that minors are to have sentences of death commuted to 5 years of prison). Only several days after these reports sparked outrage around the world was a subsequent comment released from Iran that called the young men rapists. The left raised the initial alarm over human rights, and now the right is countering with a focus on the child rape aspect.

For a more fact-based report, check out the Wiki which calls into question the validity of the rape allegations. It also draws attention to the inconsistencies, as well as the fact that the boys had been in jail since they were 16, and were subject to lashes as well.

What is not under debate is that homosexuality is punishable by death in Iran, as is extramarital sex (there was another story in blogland this week getting attention, about a 16 year old girl who was executed last year, though she claimed she had been coerced by an older man, and in this case the judge himself participated in the execution as she had defied him in court by ripping off her head scarf in anguish).

I think it depends on your disposition to have credibility in the Iranian government's changing statements. It seems like - judging from the various media - the right finds them more credible than the left.

Posted by: binky at July 26, 2005 11:35 AM | PERMALINK

I'm speechless. Three days later and this issue is still burning in my mind. BTW, the death penalty is murder. I remember "Thou shalt *not* kill." from some book. The way we treat our criminals is an accurate reflection of the people we have become.

Posted by: John at July 29, 2005 01:57 PM | PERMALINK

here in the Philippines, we are proud we more liberal in practices and law. Admittedly, gays here also suffer from some kinds of discremination, but generally, we are free.

we could not imagine those executions in Iran happening here. It will result into a bloody revolution.

Posted by: mandy at September 9, 2005 11:42 AM | PERMALINK

Wow its just sad really, that countries pratice this kind crap. I mean religion is bloody taking over the world and this world is too politically correct.

Posted by: Anna at October 23, 2005 01:19 PM | PERMALINK

The whole concept of executing any one regardless of their sexuality is a crime against humanity and shows how uncivilised some cultures are.

Thetrue horror of this case is the fact that they like countless other nations have been allowed to proceed without any international intervention.

Religeon should have no bearng on the law at all - the sooner this is encourage thet sooner people will be able to live their lives the way they wish to.

There is no justice in execution - let alone when is executing the innocent.

Posted by: Roy at October 31, 2005 05:08 PM | PERMALINK

salam
khob hastin man yek gay hastam dar iran va kasu be ma hich tavagohi nadarad lotfan az ma hemayat konid ma montazerim

Posted by: shayan at December 15, 2005 03:38 AM | PERMALINK