**WARNING, GRAPHIC PHOTO** of tragic and infamous gay execution.

[cboy4]

In wake of the pending hanging death sentence of Saddam Hussein, I thought this would be an appropriate time to briefly discuss a nightmare that was really just swept under the carpet when it happened on July 19, 2005.

As you may or may not know, people (particularly children) have been hanged in the Middle East for far less than being a dictator accused crimes against humanity.

I hope some of you (and you know who you are) keep this in mind the next time you think things are "not so bad all things considered" for gay people.

Yes, this horrific killing happened in "backward" Iran as supposed punishment for being gay.

However, only 3.5 years ago, being gay in the United States was illegal in the U.S. (Texas.)

------------------------------------------------------------

In Lawrence v. Texas, the Supreme Court, in a 6-3 decision, declared unconstitutional a Texas law that prohibited sexual acts between same sex couples.
http://www.law.duke.edu/publiclaw/supremecourtonline/commentary/lawvtex.html

WARNING GRAPHIC PHOTO OF GAY EXECUTION BELOW:

------------------------------------------------------------

The photograph of this tragedy is just one of the reasons gay people in this country are so concerned about the human equal rights of everyone not only here, but throughout the world.

Again, I realize this is Iran.

But there should have been world-wide demonstrations after this devastating human rights violation.

Instead, the silence was deafening.

There will far more outrage about Saddam's execution than these two Iranian children.

How sad.

LONDON, July 21 – Two gay teenagers were publicly executed in Iran on 19 July 2005 for the ‘crime’ of homosexuality. The youths were hanged in Edalat (Justice) Square in the city of Mashhad, in north east Iran. They were sentenced to death by Court No. 19.

Iran enforces Islamic Sharia law, which dictates the death penalty for gay sex.

One youth was aged 18 and the other was a minor under the age of 18. They were only identified by their initials, M.A. and A.M.

They admitted – probably under torture, London-based gay human rights group Outrage! suggests – to having gay sex but claimed in their defence that most young boys had sex with each other and that they were not aware that homosexuality was punishable by death.

Prior to their execution, the teenagers were held in prison for 14 months and severely beaten with 228 lashes.
http://gayorbit.net/?p=2459

[dsc]

1. It should shock the conscience of everyone

sadly this tread will likely sink like a stone.

[cboy4]

2. Yea it will. I remember when this happened, I think I could count

on two hands the number of those who commented.

People are more concerned about Britney Spears, seemingly.

[helderheid]

3. I'll do my part to kick it. Also recommended. A reminder too,

women are sentenced to death for being raped. We need to work for equal protection for everyone.

[cboy4]

7. Oh yes, you are so right about the abuses of women.

It is heartbreaking.

As someone who grew up with a mom and two sisters, I am so sensitive when it comes to the treatment of women. :)

[helderheid]

18. It is - and it's infuriating to me that women in the USA settle for "almost equal".

It wasn't long ago we couldn't vote and we are not paid equally for the same position a man is. In America. But I don't want this post to only focus on women as your OP so graphically points out that homosexuals are so demonized in the world and our own country today and we must not give up the fight for equal rights worldwide for all.

:hug:

[dsc]

12. One reason, among many, that we need to stop our

addiction to oil so we can finally either end our relationship with these places or get them to change. Women are treated horrificly in places like Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Kuait.

[Balbus]

4. ATM, DU is much more in a lather about Saddam getting hanged,

than to be worried about gays being hanged. Sorry :(

[cali]

5. Sickening

the hatred that gay people have to endure, and the callous disregard of their persecution in so many countries.

I don't like that Saddam's being executed for many reasons, but his demise doesn't cause me the pain that the deaths of these two boys do.

[MindPilot]

6. Ever feel like you somehow ended up on the wrong planet?

In the world I'm from this shit doesn't happen. I hope they send a rescue ship soon. :cry:

ETA: I just gave it number 5.

[grace0418]

9. ALL the time. I used to think the opposite, when I'd hear something like

this I'd think "On WHAT planet is it okay for...?" Then I started to realize that I asked that question an awful lot. So the only conclusion I can come to is that I too am from a place where people have brains and are capable of rational thought. It sure doesn't seem to be Earth.

[Guaranteed]

21. Absolutely. I don't even leave the house anymore.

People are just...ignorant, inhuman, etc. No words. I'm really starting to hate them.

[NNN0LHI]

8. Here is another example. From a little closer to home

Look close as that may be some of our grandpappys at the "celebration"

[cali]

10. Horrendous

legacy. We should never forget the lynchings that took place in the U.S. I'm glad these photos exist and are, from time to time, exhibited. What is it in humans that so many react to suffering, humiliation, and public death with such glee?

[formerrepuke]

14. Good book about this incident (in Marion, Indiana-1930). Cynthia Carr's

"Our Town". She went to great lengths to identify the people in the photograph, and the events leading up to it. During her research she discovered a little more than she bargained for (her grandfather lived in this town at the time). FWIW, the two men who were lynched had actually murdered a man and (allegedly) raped his girlfriend during a robbery (a third man, who was not an active participant in the murder -and who is still living- narrowly escaped lynching by what he considers divine intervention). Obviously, mob rule took the place of a fair trial- and local law enforcement may have allowed it to happen. I couldn't put the book down- its that good.

[Lurking Dem]

15. And Leo Frank

I can't even watch MSM right now. I can't believe this nation has sunk so low.

[KingFlorez]

19. And one in 1981

Michael Donald http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Donald

[LostinVA]

11. Very good post, Cboy

It needs to be on the front page.

[theHandpuppet]

13. And here are the home-grown haters

Warning: This site is HATEFUL but we cannot turn a blind eye to the hatred and bigotry right here at home!

http://www.godhatesfags.com/memorial.html

[Malmo Blue]

25. Freak Phelps

The guy who freaked out and said "40.000 Swedes Killed In The Tsunami!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!",
just because we locked up a priest who referred to homosexuals as "cancer".

If Jesus looked down on Earth and saw the people who were "representing" him, he'd move to Mars.

[Mabus]

39. Why do you think God keeps postponing the Rapture?

:evilgrin:

[cali]

38. Not. The. Same. Thing.

Yes Phelps is disgusting, but he doesn't wield the power of the State. The youngsters in Iran weren't murdered by fellow citizens. They were executed under LAWS that persecute gays to the extreme sanction of death. I trust you can see the difference.

[Junkdrawer]

16. In the 50s, Iran was a secular democracy....Then we put the Shah in...

And, from what I hear, the Svak made the above outrage look like child's play.

Terrible is the price of our interventions.

[formerrepuke]

17. Iran could have become a secular, somewhat-democratic nation (like Turkey)...

..but someone back in 1953 (won't mention any names, but the initials are C.I.A.) felt the need to help overthrow a potentially forward-looking government and restore the brutal monarchy.. which worked in our favor for about 25 years. Then it backfired, horribly. What goes around, comes around- and the these two youths have sadly been added to the list of victims.

[LaBanty]

20. sad, but true

Where it is against the law to hang gays in this country (duh!), it is is the law in many Islamic countries. While we may not have a perfect system, there have been great strides to protect gays, bisexuals, and transgenders, in this country that aren't even on the discussion table in other countries - nor will they ever be - so long as religion dictates their politics.

By the way, these are the same countries so many here at home tend to cheer on, simply because they oppose Bush. How quickly people forget the ongoing human rights violations that come standard when fundamentalist religion is the law of the land. There are no support groups, the sheeple agree with the "good book", and the ACLU doesn't even exist.

Just because they hate Bush doesn't elevate them, or somehow admonish them, of their backasswards human rights stances, particularly under the religious umbrella. When you consider hating GWB isn't an exclusive club, there aren't many reasons to support an ideology that would hang gays and stone women simply because they, too, hate him. I guess hating Bush trumps judging ("Oh, who are we to judge?") other countries for treating people like slaughter animals? It would appear so, because you sure as f*ck don't see Bono or Bruce Springsteen performing to raise money for Don't Hang Gays in Islamic Countries Awareness. Hell, Bushie holds hands with Saudi princes - princes that rule in a country that kills gays, stones women but have lots and lots of oil.

So, for as bad as it may seem here, be glad you aren't there. Besides, with the Dems in crontrol, I'm hoping things become even more progressive here in the States. It's a start, anyway.

[helderheid]

23. huh?!

"By the way, these are the same countries so many here at home tend to cheer on, simply because they oppose Bush. How quickly people forget the ongoing human rights violations that come standard when fundamentalist religion is the law of the land. "

[Downtown Hound]

27. What a bunch of horseshit

"By the way, these are the same countries so many here at home tend to cheer on, simply because they oppose Bush."

Tell me something, how many Iranian flags do you see being waved around? Or how many people do you really hear saying how much they love the oppressive, fundamentalist, whack job leadership in Iran? I don't know about you, but I can't think of one, and all of my friends and relatives are Bush-bashing, peace marching, ACLU loving liberals. And every one off them despise the this type of government. What you're doing is repeating a right wing talking point, which is essentially if you don't support illegal war or our government's corporate and military imperialism then you somehow support these despotic regimes. That's bullshit and it needs to stop. Stop falling for the spin.

[NMMNG]

32. Step away from the bong

By the way, these are the same countries so many here at home tend to cheer on, simply because they oppose Bush.

Who is cheering on any country "simply because they oppose Bush"?

the sheeple agree with the "good book",

Sounds like a good chunk of Americans.


When you consider hating GWB isn't an exclusive club, there aren't many reasons to support an ideology that would hang gays and stone women simply because they, too, hate him.

Again, who is doing this? Your reply is to the OP which is opposing the behavior of such an ideology.



Your reply doesn't make much sense, particularly coming from an (alleged) Democrat.

[tabasco]

36. Don't you have something better to do.

Like join the Army:

www.goarmy.com

[Mabus]

22. Why? Why!

This is a tragedy. And, sadly, it is only one of so many instances that never get reported or talked about. I can't begin to express how much this hurts. I don't understand why. I really don't. How can people be condemned for being themselves? How can they be condemned for needing intimacy? How can they be condemned for love?

K&R.

[Downtown Hound]

24. Absolutely sickening and tragic

This is what theocratic government looks like. This is what the Republicans want for America.

[mitchtv]

26. Thanks

It's funny,it never hits the news. Iraq, under the Shiites is beginning this shit too,

[Bryn]

28. I read the book "Not Without my Daughter"

She wrote that Shiites were far worse than Sunnis. I read that book long time ago,but that's what I rememeber. According to her, Sunnis women were treated better

[Danger Mouse]

29. And just think...

Saudia Arabia, or 'ally' in the Middle East...heh...
I know someone in my church who lived in S.A. as a child...she was the daughter of some sort of diplomat...anyway...she was forced to watch an execution of a woman that had committed adultery...a beheading...yes, they force children to watch executions...

[Imagevision]

30. and these are the people who strap on suicide belts and dream of heaven & virgins...

yeah! they're pretty fucked up and need a serious ass kicking but ass-wipe Bush fucked that up too from the get-go!

[Danger Mouse]

31. It cuts both ways...

...our actions create more fanatics...our support of Saudia Arabia encourages the attrocities their government committs, and also spawns more fanatics in reaction to those attrocities...

[fujiyama]

33. Unfortunately

crimes like this will likely occur in the inevitable theocracy (or theocracies) that will be Iraq.

I have no reason to sympathize or talk about Saddam. He made his bed. I am more disturbed that the US has lost its place as a moral force in the world to voice its outrage against such actions against innocent people.

Remember the US actually BACKED Iran on an initiative to block the UN organizations working to protect the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people.

http://hrw.org/english/docs/2006/01/25/iran12535.htm

[Buck Rabbit]

34. Hmm, quite a bit of "truthiness" flying around about this story.

The Iranian government says they were executed for raping a 13 year old at knife point.

An Iranian student newspaper and a London gay rights organization say they were executed for being gay.

An article presenting the case for both versions can be be found here.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,251-1703858,00.html


In either case, the death penalty is wrong in my view, as is the 200+ lashes for theft and alcohol. But then I live in ultra liberal Portland Oregon, where you need not fear anything except the police should you be guilty of being black in too nice a car and not using your turn signal (summary execution) or being mentally ill, beaten to death while running from police who just wanted to ask if you had urinated in the street. Oh or protesting during a Presidential visit - horse trampling, pepper spray and batons.

Anecdotal indictments of entire cities, cultures or countries don't always paint a complete picture.



---
edited: right spelling of wrong word

[Nicole]

35. Disgraceful

"There will far more outrage about Saddam's execution than these two Iranian children.

How sad."

How sad indeed.

[LetsGoMurphys]

37. This has got to be an Americans fault somehow? right? n/t