Is this justice?

[123everton]

A few weeks ago I read story from Iran.
A woman had refused a proposal of marriage (very wisely) by a man she kne.
Upset at this rejection he went out and got some acid and threw it in her face, permanently blinding her.
He was arrested, tried (spelt right?) and convicted.
The judge ordered that as he'd deliberately and permanently blinded the victim, he should be blinded also.
Is that restorative justice?
Hand on heart I have to say if that were me or mine I would welcome that sentence.

[sara3]

I think that is shocking, but maybe I would feel differently the victim was a friend or family.

[Caribeing]

That is a classic example of retribution! "An eye for an eye"

[123everton]

Yes and leaving everyone blind.
I deal with violent people often in work, they don't care if they're wrong just so long as they win the fight.
How many times do you read of some vile incident met with a sentence of painting railings and anger management?
You could end up scarred for life, or brain damaged with some of these scumbags, at worst they'll do 6 months inside having to use a PS2.
Justice for me is when you can say you'd accept that punishment if you or yours was the victim.
I dislike Sharia law, and I have to confess I'm uncomfortable with my approval of this sentence, but she is blinded for life and is now dependent on her family for everything through no fault of her own.
Even if he served 20 years for it, he would still come out and take a walk in the park and see the flowers, is that fair?

[rov1200]

I think the hardest part to come to terms with is what type of person can administer the acid at someone else's behest. Just like Pierrepoint who did hangings in this country I believe he sometimes regretted doing it. The judge can walk away with no memories or recriminations after.

[terambulan]

Barbaric actions by barbaric people adhering to barbaric laws!

[123everton]

Good point Rov, in the case of Iran they use properly registered and qualified Dr.s, they are coerced if they object to it. I don't think they'd pour acid into his eyes, I think they'd just cut them out.
It is quite ghastly when you think about it, of course the same is true of the offender
But is that punishment fair?

[123everton]

Terambulan, if that was your sister or cousin what sentence would you wish for, what would you hope happens to the offender and what punishment do you think would be meted out here?
Would that represent justice to you?

[terambulan]

Cut off his doodles and force him to maintain the woman.....leave him with 1eye so he can work and the other for the woman, if poss, or some other worthy need.

[QueenOfAmber]

It's kind of weird...

I think they should hang him and fine him and....

stuff.

Not fair for that poor woman.

[123everton]

Hmmm not a wholly liberal idea, I'd imagine the lady would want nothing more to do with him and that the offender would be reluctant knacker himself (oh no he's already been de-knackered) supporting her.
The trouble for me is you see, I'm uncomfortable with my approval of the punishment, because I understand it.
I'm not sure entirely what that says about me.

[andy-hughes]

I understand that other cultures have a different definition of justice to ours, and that concept is frequently explored in this site in cases of child murder, paedophilia, and so on.

I could not be happy with the notion that someone was punished in this way - even if it was myself or a loved one that was injured by the crime - I simply do not have that level of revenge in my system.

I feel that most people who talk of 'pulling levers', 'shooting'', and all the other knee-jerk reactions are acting from emotional response, and would not seriously be willing or able to complete what they feel they see as appropriate justice for a wrongdoer.

I believe that justice and revenge are separate concepts, and should not be confused, but I speak as a Westerner who tries to think beyond immediate emotional reactions, and not as an Easterner - and I do believe they think and feel differently on such subjects, which is why their laws fit their culture, but not this one.

[badcompany]

hmm,i used to be from the school of ''send one of mine to the hospital and we'll send ten of yours to the morgue''

but an eye for an eye? where does it end? most of the shootings and stabbings you hear about are tit for tat,back in the 90's i lost about 10 school/neighborhood friends when there was tit for tat ending in 19 murders!

[123everton]

Andy excellent answer, Cethswayo could'nt have put it better himself.
Badcompany, do you not feel the lack of a state sanctioned punishments helped to exacerbate the situation whereby that could happen?

[keyplus90]

A related question was posted earlier as well. You may like looking at what she looked before and after that animal ruined her life.

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/Ir an-Acid-To-Be-Dripped-Into-Spurned-Mans-Eyes-F or-Disfiguring-Woman/Article/200811415164231?l pos=World_News_First_Home_Article_Teaser_Regio n_0&lid=ARTICLE_15164231_Iran%3A_Acid_To_Be_Dr ipped_Into_Spurned_Mans_Eyes_For_Disfiguring_W oman

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/News/Question66 3738.html

[neon]

Good. Let the punishment fit the crime!!

[gelda]

Keyplus, please don't call him an animal, animals just don't behave like that.

[tigerlily11]

I totally agree Gelda animals don't behave like that.
Yes they fight and kill but they do it because of survival instincts and we are supposed to know better. Or so we keep kidding ourselves.

[Mr Veritas]

I haven't read the other answers(on purposes) so that my answer can be somewhat dispassionate.
We have friend(who is now in her early 30's) who lives in Hastings
About 10 or so years ago she split up from her boyfriend.He went to her house one night and poured petrol over her and lit it,..She has(so far) had more that 70 plastic surgery operations,but of course they can never recreate her previous body.
I rang her today to ask what she thought of this news item( she had seen it on the net) and what her views were.
She said she could not condone making anyone suffer what she had (and is still) going through,"what good would it do,it would not make me feel better"
This of course is a purely personal view on her part,but I thought you might like to have it.
More here:~
http://www.hastings.gov.uk/about/issue26_regen eration.aspx
Scroll down to:~
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