Consequences of Stoning in Traditonal Society

Stoning is an ancient capital punishment that has been practiced before the time of Christ.

Stoning is a brutal method of capital punishment that is no longer practiced in most modern societies. However, as of 2011, at least 17 territories or countries still practice stoning as means of capital punishment for crimes. The process involves burying a person up to the waist or shoulders so that he can't move. Then a crowd hurls stones at the person until he dies. The process is not meant to be quick. it is painful, slow and violent. The societies that still practice stoning use it as a clear way of forcing a certain kind of behavior, but it also has other effects.

Basis

Stoning in the countries or territories that still use the execution method tends to be based on religious law. Among those areas that practice stoning, Islamic law frequently gets used as the basis or authority allowing the practice. Stoning is considered a legal punishment specific to crimes associated with unlawful sexual acts such as sex outside of marriage or (adultery). However, in some cases it is also applied in the cases of rape.

Examples

Stoning in the modern world can still be found in countries such as Iran and Saudi Arabia. It also exists in countries as Pakistan and Yemen. Stoning can also be found in areas of Africa that practice Islamic law such as Nigeria, Somalia and Sudan. While Muslim countries that are trying to steer away from old practices have begun to dampen the use of stoning as punishment, those areas with extreme religious views and tribal governments are still using stoning, such as in Afghanistan. In some cases, stoning in rural communities still occurs as well when related to honor killings, as found in India and Pakistan.

Death Sentence Deterrence

One of the main effects expected from community leaders promoting stoning is deterrence from a banned behavior. Islamic law specifically allows stoning as punishment for sex-related crimes. The hope is that with such a violent and severe punishment, witnesses will be scared into not committing the same crimes. However, people still commit adultery and young people still attract each other despite the risks. As a result, stoning occurs regularly despite its ineffectiveness as an unlawful sex deterrence.

Cleaning Up Society

The next desired effect of stoning as punishment is that it gets rid of those who are believed to be corrupting a community. The problem with this logic is that in stoning is arbitrarily applied. In many cases the punishment is more a threat to women in tribal communities to keep them in line and hiding behind home walls rather than a general punishment to all who commit a crime. Multiple examples exist where women are punished for the crime of being supposedly unchaste while mean accused of rape walk free. This practical effect teaches women in such communities that they are no better than a man's property.

References

• Answering Islam: Come, Ye Sinners, Get Flogged and Stoned in Islam; James Arlandson
• "Associated Foreign Press"; Islamic Countries Come Under Pressure for Stoning"; Paul Handley; September 2010.
• "Daily Mail UK"; Stoned to Death With Her Lover; Jan. 2011
• "The New York Times"; Does a Death Penalty Save Lives?; Adam Liptik; November 2007