Iraqi demands justice in rape-slay case

[zimv20]

AP (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060704/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_060704163945)


BAGHDAD, Iraq - The justice minister demanded Tuesday that the U.N. Security Council ensure that a group of U.S. troops are punished in the alleged rape and murder of a young Iraqi and the killing of her family, calling the attack "monstrous and inhuman."

Two female legislators also called for Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to be summoned to parliament to give assurances that justice would be done.

[...]

"If this act actually happened, it constitutes an ugly and unethical crime, monstrous and inhuman," said Justice Minister Hashim Abdul-Rahman al-Shebli, a Sunni Arab. "The Iraqi judiciary should be informed about this investigation which should be conducted under supervision of international and human organizations. Those involved should face justice."

"The ugliness of this crime demands a swift intervention of the U.N. Security Council to stop these violations of human rights and to condemn them so that they will not happen again," he added.

The two lawmakers, Safiya al-Suhail and Ayda al-Sharif, said condemnation was not enough.

"We demand severe punishment for the five soldiers involved," al-Sharif said. "Denouncements are not enough. If this act has taken place in another country, the world would have turned upside down."

Al-Suhail said al-Maliki should appear before parliament "to make sure investigations are taking place."

Mahmoudiya Mayor Mouayad Fadhil said Iraqi authorities have started their own investigation and that he had asked the hospital where the victims were taken for more details.

(more)

iraq calling in the UN against the US? that will ruffle a few feathers.

[blackfox]

Not to detract from the serious nature of the crimes and the subsequent reactions, but the call for UN intervention reminds me of the old headline from The Onion in the wake of the contested US 2000 Presidential Election.

Serbia brings in Peacekeeping forces to restore order in US Capitol. (iirc)

Seriously, from what I know about the situation, it seems that at least one soldier seems likely to receive the death penalty. I do wonder, however, how the political pressure of the incident might make it difficult for these soldiers to receive a fair trial.

[scem0]

I hope it was worth it for that soldier(s), because the rest of his life, which will probably be cut way short, ain't gunna be too much fun. :cool:

e

[Queso]

Serbia brings in Peacekeeping forces to restore order in US Capitol. (iirc)
Do you also remember Robert Mugabe offering election observers? Truly embarrassing for the USA.

[skunk]

Do you also remember Robert Mugabe offering election observers? Truly embarrassing for the USA.Pity they didn't take him up on his offer.

[Queso]

Pity they didn't take him up on his offer.
Somehow I doubt it would've changed the result ;)

[mactastic]

I'm sure the US would be demanding to try anyone who did that to a US citizen.

[ham_man]

Screw evidence. Just stone 'em.

[scem0]

Guys, we should be moral about this... We should do what the Bible says:

"If a man happens to meet a virgin who is not pledged to be married and rapes her and they are discovered, he shall pay the girl's father fifty shekels of silver. He must marry the girl, for he has violated her. He can never divorce her as long as he lives." Deuteronomy 22:28-29

e

[Josh]

Guys, we should be moral about this... We should do what the Bible says:

"If a man happens to meet a virgin who is not pledged to be married and rapes her and they are discovered, he shall pay the girl's father fifty shekels of silver. He must marry the girl, for he has violated her. He can never divorce her as long as he lives." Deuteronomy 22:28-29

e

Not a bad idea.

[zimv20]

just to be clear, you two are advocating for the soldier to marry a burnt corpse?

[iTwitch]

Guys, we should be moral about this... We should do what the Bible says:

"If a man happens to meet a virgin who is not pledged to be married and rapes her and they are discovered, he shall pay the girl's father fifty shekels of silver. He must marry the girl, for he has violated her. He can never divorce her as long as he lives." Deuteronomy 22:28-29

e

Great, lets force biblical law on them I'm sure they'll like that. :rolleyes:

[leekohler]

Great, lets force biblical law on them I'm sure they'll like that. :rolleyes:

I'm not liking that idea either.

[solvs]

just to be clear, you two are advocating for the soldier to marry a burnt corpse?
Let the punishment fit the crime?

[Josh]

just to be clear, you two are advocating for the soldier to marry a burnt corpse?

I guess you're right.

Wouldn't be fair to the corpse...

[zimv20]

there's been some disagreement on what the age of the rape and murder victim was. from the original article:

The affidavit estimated the rape victim was about 25. But a doctor at the Mahmoudiya hospital gave her age as 14.

reuters (http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2006-07-09T161420Z_01_COL944937_RTRUKOC_0_UK-IRAQ-RAPE.xml&archived=False) claims she was indeed 14:

documents obtained by Reuters on Sunday showed the rape victim was a minor aged just 14, and not over 20 as U.S. officials say.

[CorvusCamenarum]

Guys, we should be moral about this... We should do what the Bible says:

"If a man happens to meet a virgin who is not pledged to be married and rapes her and they are discovered, he shall pay the girl's father fifty shekels of silver. He must marry the girl, for he has violated her. He can never divorce her as long as he lives." Deuteronomy 22:28-29

e

If you're going to quote from the Bible, it might be prudent to fully understand the passage you are referencing. The original context of what is now translated as "rape" here is somewhat contested. Further, reading around those two verses would indicate that different cases were made depending on location of said act, namely inside a city versus out in the countryside.

Fifty shekels of silver is equivalent to about $190, going from the average weight of 13 grams per coin and the last quote for silver at $11.12 an ounce.

[scem0]

I was referring to the Bible, but i was just making a joke :).

No intention to turn this thread into a debate on the Christian stance towards rape.

e

[theBB]

Am I the only one who thinks it is odd that both the US news media and the fanatics in Iraq are concentrating on the rape part more than her murder, not to mention the murder of three of her family members? Iraqis are talking about justice or revenge for her being dishonored, while I just saw a newspaper with a headline that says "Army charges ex-soldier with rape". Call me crazy, but he is charged with four murders, should not that be considered a more serious, violent and heinous crime?

[zimv20]

Call me crazy, but he is charged with four murders, should not that be considered a more serious, violent and heinous crime?
i get the impression that, to muslims, rape is the more serious crime.

[iTwitch]

Call me crazy, but he is charged with four murders, should not that be considered a more serious, violent and heinous crime?

Well, it is a war? zone so I guess you could attempt to justify murders (stress or whatever) but rape is indefenseable.

[solvs]

i get the impression that, to muslims, rape is the more serious crime.
More that our people dared rape their girl. I hate to say it, but I wonder if they're thinking of her as a person who was wronged, or property that was taken. Still doesn't justify them desecrating (http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-rape5jul05,0,2690745.story?coll=la-home-headlines) 2 other innocent soldiers for the crimes of others.

[theBB]

i get the impression that, to muslims, rape is the more serious crime.
Even if that is the case, which still does not make sense to me, US newspapers are singing the same tune as well.

[theBB]

More that our people dared rape their girl. I hate to say it, but I wonder if they're thinking of her as a person who was wronged, or property that was taken.
Considering they are more concerned about her being dishonored, I think it is more of a property thing. Unbelievable...

[solvs]

Unbelievable...
Not really. As you pointed out, we're doing it too. Apparently murder and torture are ok. Rape is certainly a pretty bad crime, but not for the reasons you'd think I guess.