Don't Let Mitt Turn Back Time On Women

Bid to halt US 'vein' execution

Lawyers for a US man on death row say they will try to halt a second attempt at his execution by lethal injection.

On Tuesday the execution of murderer and rapist Romell Broom was called off and delayed for a week after Ohio state officials failed to find a vein.

His lawyers demanded that the procedure be stopped after two hours, describing it as "cruel".

They say that as he survived it would amount to "cruel and unusual punishment" to try again.

Source: BBC News

This is sick. I have been firmly opposed to the death penalty forever. I know some of you are saying well he raped and murdered, which he did, and should be punished and it was a terrible crime. But, this just goes to show how execution is never easy. Now this man has to wait two weeks for the next attempt? Ridiculous!

Now, I know many people don't have any sympathy for him and will say things like, 'he had no sympathy for the girl he raped' and that sort of thing. Fair enough. But if that is your argument, then what you are doing is putting yourself in the same category as the killer. Why lower yourself to his level?

I will never waver in my belief that; No state should have the right to decide if someone lives or dies. This is more because of the potential for abuse, racially motivated executions and the ever present possibility of executing an innocent person, than for sympathy towards creeps who kill innocent children or anyone else.

Saudi King pardons vicitm

A few weeks ago I posted a story about a woman who had been gang raped and then was sentenced to 90 lashes for the rape. Today I read this story from CTV news about the Saudi King pardoning the victim.

'Virtuous' Saudis defend 200 lashes for rape victim

Reacting to West's criticism, justice ministry says 19-year-old broke Islamic law by having an affair

Nov 25, 2007 04:30 AM
RIYADH–Saudi Arabia is defending a court's decision to sentence a woman who was gang-raped to 200 lashes, saying she was having an extramarital affair in violation of Islamic laws.

The case of the 19-year-old Shiite woman who, along with a male companion, was abducted and raped by seven men has drawn international attention. Canada has denounced the "barbaric" sentence and even the United States, a close ally of the conservative kingdom, offered mild criticism.

"The woman in the case is married and has confessed to establishing a relationship in violation of sharia law," the Saudi Justice Ministry said in a statement yesterday.

It said she and her companion were alone in a dark area outdoors when they were noticed by the men who later raped them.

Read the full story from the Toronto Star.