Sudanese woman given death sentence for apostasy

[DoctorTwo]

Story here. So, this woman is going to be whipped for adultery, because having sex with her Christian husband counts as adultery, then hanged for believing in the wrong god.

How fucked up is that? So gods do oneupmanship. Who knew? To me they're all equally ridiculous, but I wouldn't condemn somebody to death for being from a different branch of atheism.

Yes, oppression of women, as a tribal mechanism - the fear of 'their' woman going off with another is behind FGM, 'honour' killings, this charge of 'adultery', burkha wearing etc etc, and is common in many societies and religions based in a tribal structure - not exclusive to Islam, and arising more, possibly, out of a tribal outlook than religious. Although they come to be the same thing very early on.

But it isn't just this. The war in Sudan was between the Islamic N and the Christian S regions - religious differences and oppression are used to cerate political power. Same thing in Nigeria, there is a political and regional struggle with religion along the same axis.

Anyway, lets hope that the spokesperson who announced her forthcoming freedom actually has the authority to effect it.

Does anyone know why as a U.S citizen her DH didn't take them to the U.S?

charm my understanding is that he couldn't get her into the US...

I don't disagree that much of this is about persecution of women and that women are usually those who suffer the most. But the fact remains they are bloody awful to some men too. I also think a lot of it is simply about a barbaric regime which uses an extreme interpretation of a religion to justify its heinous activities. To focus solelt on its actions towards women ignores the fact they are brutal towards many sectors of its population.

It's government sanctioned torture and murmur. I would like to see continued international pressure placed on these countries.

CharmQuark - yes I'd agree that religion and tribalism are so intimately bound that it's difficult to separate them. And it's certainly not exclusive to other cultures, look at the bloody historical record of Catholicism and Protestantism in this country.

That's why religion shouldn't be bound up in the state (including state schools) IMO, and if a country is to achieve any kind of internal harmony then we should all be very aware of the divisions that religion can create.

There are also men in prison, sentenced to death, for the "crime" of apostasy :-(

Sadly, if she doesn't get her green card, she will live looking over her shoulder. There's the whole 'family honour' thing too.

This sundays newspapers were full of such violence and hatred towards women - in the guise of religion, culture, caste system etc. It shows just how badly women are viewed in society. The poor pregnant woman stoned in pakistan - she will never get justice as there is such a mess over who did what. Her sister is now saying that it wasn't her dad/brothers but her new husband - the one who has just admitted to murdering his last wife (and will he be prosecuted for that? I doubt it).

What a bloody mess.

It is indeed a bloody mess. I'm pleased beyond belief at the news Meriam is to be released.

There has since been another news article saying that the person who announced her release was taken out of context and that she can only be released following a successful appeal.... Even then, it is naïve to think that this will be the end of it for her.

Yes wannabe. this sadly looks like it's far from over, with another announcement saying it's in the hands of the courts again who are independent (and interpret Sharia law)

It's not looking great.

Re the woman in Pakistan - why aren't there prosecutions for these crimes? It's utterly abhorrent that in the 21st century you can stone someone to death in the street and get away with it.

I really hope that the US will wade in and offer her a green card - not sure why she cant get it if her husband is a citizen? I have relatives who were born in the states, never lived there yet emigrated as adults with their spouses.

Re: Pakistan - well, its like someone kicking a dog here isn't it? Not exactly crime of the century in Pakistan (nor will it have the shock factor of a rare incident there). The husband says it was the family, the family says it was him and the police are like the three wise monkeys.

DaddyPig the way I understood it, and I may be wrong so apologies if I am. There is provision in the law for the families of victims to forgive people who care your these crimes. When forgiveness is given there is no need to punish them any further. Many families will are your these honor killings then forgive the family members and they get away with it. It's barbaric :(