Most gruesome punishment ever:Qasas

Society Religion & Philosophy
1

Qasas: Slitting of human throat. It was handed down by the Taliban to supposed murderers, and sometimes political opponents. All this was done in the name of Islam!!

There are pictures and videos of the punishement upclose going around on the web. But I would suggest you not look it up. I have seen the vid and regret it. Anyway, I was just wondering what you guys think about it?

My opinion of it is that human society saw the lowest of the low with Taleban minus Qasas. This punishment (of which i only became aware of last night) takes them to the absolute bedrock. That Taleban still manage to have a following baffles me. I hate to call them humans, much less muslims. This also shows what kind of monsters ISI is capable of producing if left to itself. Unbelievable.

2

Daer, Qasa is not "Slitting of human throat" rahter its the law. The law of qasas can be implemented by different means including the silting the human throat. The way the punishment is carried out is the responibility of the court. In many islamic socities these punishment were/are carried out in public so it can be a deterrent. Please read the following Ayah from Quran.

2:178 O ye who believe! the law of equality (qasas) is prescribed to you in cases of **murder: the free for the free, the slave for the slave, the woman for the woman. But if any remission is made by the brother of the slain, then grant any reasonable demand, and compensate him with handsome gratitude, this is a concession and a Mercy from your Lord. After this whoever exceeds the limits shall be in grave penalty.

People might have issues with the the way this punishment is carried out, but its a law as perscribed by allah.
*Ya ayyuha allatheena amanoo kutiba AAalaykumu alqisasu fee alqatla *

3

[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by MiniMe: *
Daer, Qasa is not "Slitting of human throat" rahter its the law. The law of qasas can be implemented by different means including the silting the human throat. The way the punishment is carried out is the responibility of the court. In many islamic socities these punishment were/are carried out in public so it can be a deterrent. Please read the following Ayah from Quran.

2:178 O ye who believe! the law of equality (qasas) is prescribed to you in cases of **murder: the free for the free, the slave for the slave, the woman for the woman. But if any remission is made by the brother of the slain, then grant any reasonable demand, and compensate him with handsome gratitude, this is a concession and a Mercy from your Lord. After this whoever exceeds the limits shall be in grave penalty.

People might have issues with the the way this punishment is carried out, but its a law as perscribed by allah.
*Ya ayyuha allatheena amanoo kutiba AAalaykumu alqisasu fee alqatla *
[/QUOTE]

But nowhere does that ayat say that you are to slit throats?!

4

^^

Yes, punishments as such, the empasis is on (keyword) deterrent. Many countries enforce capital punishment, usually as a punishment, and does not serve much deterrence, Qasas may be difficult for some people to grasp, well some people have never had anyone close to them murdered.

5

[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by the real AK47: *
^^

Yes, punishments as such, the empasis is on (keyword) deterrent. Many countries enforce capital punishment, usually as a punishment, and does not serve much deterrence, Qasas may be difficult for some people to grasp, well some people have never had anyone close to them murdered.
[/QUOTE]

So basically the law of Qasas says eye for an eye. Right? If yes, then I have no problem with it because its written is Quran. But what I do have a problem with is the mode used by Taliban to hand
out Qasas. ie throat slitting.

Does Islam allow slitting of throats? I personally had never heard of it before last night.

6

The execution as punishment for murder is justified under Qasas. Nowhere in Quran the method of execution is given, as I said it up to the courts to determine that.

In different societies the methods used for execution have been different. From burning people alive to chopping their limbs and so on, but chopping of the head has been considered as the quickest form of execution. An important thing to remember here is that these are acts of punishments undertaken by the judiciary as implementation of law, not some acts carried out by individuals.

7

[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by MiniMe: *
The execution as punishment for murder is justified under Qasas. Nowhere in Quran the method of execution is given, as I said it up to the courts to determine that.

In different societies the methods used for execution have been different. From burning people alive to chopping their limbs and so on, but chopping of the head has been considered as the quickest form of execution. An important thing to remember here is that these are acts of punishments undertaken by the judiciary as implementation of law, not some acts carried out by individuals.
[/QUOTE]

This is different from chopping off the head. It is literally like slaughtering a cow, and designed to inflict maximum pain. If Capital punishment must be given to the culprit, why must it be so gruesome and painful.

8

[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by ChthonicPowers: *

So basically the law of Qasas says eye for an eye. Right? If yes, then I have no problem with it because its written is Quran. But what I do have a problem with is the mode used by Taliban to hand
out Qasas. ie throat slitting.

Does Islam allow slitting of throats? I personally had never heard of it before last night.
[/QUOTE]

I am not an expert on this, however as far as I know its not "eye for an eye", it is punishing someone for murder, it is serving justice and not revenge,I cant comment on what is written in the Quran,I cannot remember anything from it, at the top of my head, however some one else with better knowledge can elaborate.
meanwhile, if I have time I'll look it up, and get back to you.

9

[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by ChthonicPowers: *

So basically the law of Qasas says eye for an eye. Right? If yes, then I have no problem with it because its written is Quran. But what I do have a problem with is the mode used by Taliban to hand
out Qasas. ie throat slitting.

Does Islam allow slitting of throats? I personally had never heard of it before last night.
[/QUOTE]

Well then you have a problem with Taleban not Qasas. Hence the topic of the thread is not only misleading but also blatantly wrong.

10

[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by ChthonicPowers: *

So basically the law of Qasas says eye for an eye. Right? If yes, then I have no problem with it because its written is Quran. But what I do have a problem with is the mode used by Taliban to hand
out Qasas. ie throat slitting.

Does Islam allow slitting of throats? I personally had never heard of it before last night.
[/QUOTE]

so you will be ok if eyes were gouged out instead of slitting the throat?

11

agreed!

[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Kaleem: *

Well then you have a problem with Taleban not Qasas. Hence the topic of the thread is not only misleading but also blatantly wrong.
[/QUOTE]

12

If you happen to be standing in the parking lot of Masjid-e-Nabwi in Medina, on a Friday morning (any Friday will do), chances are you will witness beheading of criminals up close and personal. They kill drug dealers and murderers through a swift cut of sword, so the head rolls on the street. Its a regular occurance in Mekkah and Medina, and probably all major cities of Saudi Arabia. Thats their method of justice and the punishment is prescribed by the court of law. One impact is that Saudi Arabia has probably the lowest crime rate in the region.

Point being, capital punishment is capital punishment. You can kill condemned criminals by injecting lethal injection, electric chair, hanging, firing squad or slitting the throat. Its never pretty anyway, and is almost always grotesque.

Why blame Taleban only? If you have a problem with slitting the throat, then you'd have similar problem with Saudis. If you have a philosophical problem with death penalty per se, then you are on the wrong side of not only God, but most Eastern and (democratic) Western countries, including many states in the US, who permit capital punishments.

13

[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Kaleem: *
Well then you have a problem with Taleban not Qasas. Hence the topic of the thread is not only misleading but also blatantly wrong.
[/QUOTE]

My friend, I am not well versed with religion I saw a vid of qasas on this website which did not mention it was an Islamic law. It only mentioned the practise of Qasas by Taliban. So I inferred that Qasas meant slitting of throat, and that it was an invention of Taliban under the name of Islam. Something that is pretty clear from my original post. So that is why I came here to solicit your views on the matter in a responsible manner. You want to tell me something I don't know, you are welcome. But don't jump up on me telling what is wrong knowing where I was coming from. Additionally, if Capital Punishment is allowed under the law of Qasas, does it not, in effect, make it the most gruesome act anyway? I mean just because it is permissible under the law to chop heads, slit throats, hang and burn people, doesn't make the act any less terrifying. Or does it? Good or bad, I don't know. But gruesome it is.

14

[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Yogi: *

so you will be ok if eyes were gouged out instead of slitting the throat?
[/QUOTE]

"Eye for an Eye" is an English maxim.

15

[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Faisal: *
If you happen to be standing in the parking lot of Masjid-e-Nabwi in Medina, on a Friday morning (any Friday will do), chances are you will witness beheading of criminals up close and personal. They kill drug dealers and murderers through a swift cut of sword, so the head rolls on the street. Its a regular occurance in Mekkah and Medina, and probably all major cities of Saudi Arabia. Thats their method of justice and the punishment is prescribed by the court of law. One impact is that Saudi Arabia has probably the lowest crime rate in the region.
[/QUOTE]

The effects of public display of Capital Punishment are highly questionable. Otherwise how do you explain the dip in murders during late 60's when Capital Punishment was reenacted in the US? Neither did the US govt. hand out these punishments in public, nor they used any brutal methods such as throat slitting and head chopping, yet they achieved the desired results. Capital Punishment might be an effective deterrent against crimes but the justification of public display of these punishments and the use of such brutal methods is un-corroborated.

[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Faisal: *
Point being, capital punishment is capital punishment. You can kill condemned criminals by injecting lethal injection, electric chair, hanging, firing squad or slitting the throat. Its never pretty anyway, and is almost always grotesque.
[/QUOTE]

Just like people had problems with crushing criminals to death, I have problems with slaughtering people. Capital Punishment are always dreadful but can't they be made a little gentler by avoiding extreme methods? Again, if the end result of Capital Punishment is the same, why not carry it out using the least controversial and clean method?

[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Faisal: *
Why blame Taleban only? If you have a problem with slitting the throat, then you'd have similar problem with Saudis.
[/QUOTE]

Taleban followed Islam when and where it suited them and added to and subtracted from it on mere whims and wishes. Their whole concept of Islam does not correspond with my and rest of the Muslim world's beliefs and it is thus that I hold them in grim light. Several cases can be made to illustrate how Taleban construed the religion to suit their needs but lets just stay with one: Does Islamic law not dictate that if a grieved family forgives the criminal then he/she must be freed? If it does, then why did Taleban refuse to forgive the woman whose crying children prevailed over the family of her husband and they forgave her and communicated the same to Taleban? If Islamic law was the basis of the Capital Punishment handed to her, then shouldn't they have followed it in letter and spirit and let her go instead of putting a bullet through her head? Moreover, where does the Islam say that you have to be an absolute savage in order to carry out Qasas? And what are the objectives of this Qasas law, anyway? Is it to serve justice or is it to curb crimes? I suspect it is to serve justice. If its true, then why are these Capital Punishments (slaughtering and throat slitting) being carried out in public and in the most ghastly manner? Why manipulate a law to suit your own objectives. Objectives that are not necessarily in line with Islam? I ask you this, if Islam doesn't ask of us to slit throats, then why must we? If the loss of a family is to be fulfilled or justice is to be served, then can't it be done in a way that is relatively less horrifying and achieves the objectives conceived by Islam?

[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Faisal: *
If you have a philosophical problem with death penalty per se, then you are on the wrong side of not only God, but most Eastern and (democratic) Western countries, including many states in the US, who permit capital punishments.
[/QUOTE]

I thought I had already made my views clear on the matter. Just in case you missed:

[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by ChthonicPowers: *
If yes, then I have no problem with it because its written is Quran. But what I do have a problem with is the mode used by Taliban to hand
out Qasas. ie throat slitting.
[/quote]

I find it interesting that I objected to only the a particular procedure of Capital Punishment, and it was completely taken out of context to include the whole Capital Punishment law itself. If I had a problem with Capital Punishment itself, I can assure you I would've started with present day Pakistan, not the abyssmal past of the Taleban.

16

ChthonicPowers, I am not jumping on you, just pointing out that the title does not reflect the truth. Qasas, also allows for one to forgive the convicted...Did you know that? So, how does Qasas become the msot gruesome punishment. Maybe the title should be "Most Gruesome Capital Punishment". I hope I made myself clear.

17

[QUOTE]
One impact is that Saudi Arabia has probably the lowest crime rate in the region
[/QUOTE]

I wanted to point out that the so called "crime rate" of saudi arabia has never been independently monitored or measured. Hence any comparison will be one's own personal opinion only.

[QUOTE]
Why blame Taleban only? If you have a problem with slitting the throat, then you'd have similar problem with Saudis.
[/QUOTE]

I hope this is not to imply that the saudi's are in some way very islamic and saudi arabia an "Islamic State" beyond criticism.

18

ChthonicPowers, it seems that you visited an anti-Taliban site and believed whatever is written there. Since Taliban were not very media friendly its hard to authenticate any news origin. They may have chopped heads, I never heard about throat-slitting so I can't be so sure.

You must have seen another video floating around where a "Taliban" hits women in burqa with a stick, any guesses if it really were Taliban?

The purpose of chopping head is not just to kill the convict but also to tell others to stay away from it. If you don't like to watch you don't have to go and visit the site nobody will grab you by ears and open your eyes with pliers to watch it.

Death by injection, electrocution and other method do seem to be peaceful, but are they really? Death is death, you will feel the pain. If your body drains blood faster then chances are that your brain will die faster.

All I said does not really mean to approve throat-slitting.

19

[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Kaleem: *
ChthonicPowers, I am not jumping on you, just pointing out that the title does not reflect the truth. Qasas, also allows for one to forgive the convicted...Did you know that? So, how does Qasas become the msot gruesome punishment. Maybe the title should be "Most Gruesome Capital Punishment". I hope I made myself clear.
[/QUOTE]

Alright, I thinkyou have a point. I apologise for the mis-communication. Like I said I didnt know Qasas was not a Taleban invention but an Islamic law.

20

[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Changez_like: *
ChthonicPowers, it seems that you visited an anti-Taliban site and believed whatever is written there. Since Taliban were not very media friendly its hard to authenticate any news origin. They may have chopped heads, I never heard about throat-slitting so I can't be so sure.
[/QUOTE]

The website is anti-taleban alright. But the question is are there any pro-Taleban websites too?! The throat slitting videos and pictures are available online. PM me if you want the direct link.

[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Changez_like: *
You must have seen another video floating around where a "Taliban" hits women in burqa with a stick, any guesses if it really were Taliban?
[/QUOTE]

The Taleban were ruling about 95% of Afghanistan. There is more of a chance that the people in those pictures were Taleban than not. And its not just one or two pictures. There are photogalleries of Taleban atrocities much worse than just flogging a few women. Plus this organisation has been showing its photos in New York and Paris or some other city.So i dont think its just another me-too anti-taleban website.

[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Changez_like: *
The purpose of chopping head is not just to kill the convict but also to tell others to stay away from it.
[/QUOTE]

In Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan, maybe. But does the Qasas law have a similar purpose? If public execution is not mentioned in the Qasas law then why should it be used to achieve your own crime curbing objective?

[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Changez_like: *

If you don't like to watch you don't have to go and visit the site nobody will grab you by ears and open your eyes with pliers to watch it.
[/QUOTE]

If I refuse to watch these executions, will that change anything? My objection to public execution using such gruesome methods will stay whether i watch or i dont watch.

[QUOTE]
Originally posted by Changez_like: *
Death by injection, electrocution and other method do **seem* to be peaceful, but are they really? Death is death, you will feel the pain. If your body drains blood faster then chances are that your brain will die faster.

All I said does not really mean to approve throat-slitting.
[/QUOTE]

If death is death, and pain is to be felt in any case then why must we choose the method that is not only painful for the criminal but for the rest od the humanity too? Why, if left to choose, must we show to the world that muslim nation enjoys and supports such public executions. Why can't we quit this method of execution when even Islam doesn't teach us to use it? Is the penalty for murder in Islam death or is it ghastly execution?