Iran cuts off hands from five thieves

They like to do that kind of thing there. What happens if you steal a kiss?

I wonder if car thefts rates would drop if we started lopping off finger joints on the little shits, because those ankle bracelets don't seem to deter them.

Savages...but I like the idea.

It's a permanent solution to thievery because, as they say, if the hand is used to offend, then removing the hand effectively prevents further offense. The removal of the hand also marks the person in society and it sends a valuable message to others not to do the same.

It's severe, but it's a far lower cost to society than seeing some thief go on a 60-year career of in and out of jail...which is what they do in our progressive and tolerant countries.

I figured this post would excite the law and order types on this forum. All of a sudden Iran doesn't look so bad anymore. Why then Bart, were you so against that woman being stoned for adultery? It also "sends a valuable message to others not to do the same."

Because adultery is not a crime against anyone else. It certainly upsets some people, but no one else is harmed when such a thing occurs.

Bear in mind that theives who lose their hands are typically repeat offenders. Even the Iranian courts are not that bad with first-time offenders.

While I can agree with this sort of punnishment for say a habitual offender, I wonder how many would advocate it for say someones 10 year old lifting a candy bar or such.

Amazing how often people admire repressive regimes for their harsh treatment of criminals without ever understanding that they go hand in hand.

No pun intended, I'm sure. But exactly. One day they're getting their knickers in a knot for Iran stoning women (as they should), the next day they're admiring them for being tough on crime. If a woman commits adultery 100 times, does that make it OK to stone her?

Because adultery is not a crime against anyone else. It certainly upsets some people, but no one else is harmed when such a thing occurs.

Bear in mind that theives who lose their hands are typically repeat offenders. Even the Iranian courts are not that bad with first-time offenders.

That is not true. Adultery destroys whole families, in some cases 2 families. Its repercussions are often dire and lasting both on the cheated spouse and on any children. In some ways it is more appropriate that this be against the law as opposed to say something like bigamy which is often quite the opposite.

That is not to say either should be against the law but if we can make laws about social choices like marriage, age of consent, drug use, prostitution, and any other law designed to "protect" society then so can they.

Honestly, allowing someone to offend 100 times before imposing a severe sentence is really not that harsh.

In the USA people can get a lifetime prison sentence without hope of parole after three felony convictions so, frankly, this act on the part of the Iranians is kind of...dare I say it?...tolerant in comparison.

So then you're defending their point of view that adultery is a serious offense?

Honestly, allowing someone to offend 100 times before imposing a severe sentence is really not that harsh.

In the USA people can get a lifetime prison sentence without hope of parole after three felony convictions so, frankly, this act on the part of the Iranians is kind of...dare I say it?...tolerant in comparison.

I dare say crippling a person so he is stigmatized for life and unable to ever support himself just defines compassion.

I doubt Iran would be receiving any less harsh words if it had been the guys second conviction. The same type of mentality that does things like this also stones women and shoots protesters. Such acts go hand in hand and when justice becomes brutal it always always spills onto the civilian populations as the system begins to lump both in the same pile. After all we are all guilty of something.