A Different Kind of Grief

[qos]

I've never used this icon for anything but posts related to my grief over Lohain's death.

This news article deserves it.


Girl, 13, stoned to death in Somalia

(CNN) — A 13-year-old girl accused of adultery was stoned to death last month in a soccer stadium in Somalia, witnesses told CNN.

The killing occurred October 27 after the girl, Aisha Ibrahim Duhulow, told officials of al-Shabab, a radical Islamic group that controls the port city of Kismayo 500 km (300 miles) south of Mogadishu, that she had been raped by three men, said Amnesty International, citing sources.

The human rights organization said 50 men participated in stoning the girl, who had been placed in a hole in the ground, as about 1,000 people watched.

“It was absolutely appalling to be there, the girl was screaming and begging for mercy as she was being dragged to her killing hole,” said a Kismayo resident who did not want to be identified out of fear for his safety.

None of the men accused of rape were arrested, Amnesty International said.

http://cnnwire.blogs.cnn.com/2008/11/06/girl-13-stoned-to-death-in-somalia/




This isn't the first time such an atrocity has occurred, and -- tragically -- it won't be the last. I just could not let this article pass without comment, without bringing the horror of it to the attention of others.


I can not comprehend how the sexuality of women can be so threatening to men that death is considered an appropriate penalty for being the victim of rape, even when the victim is a child.

I pray for the peace of Aisha's soul.

I pray for a world in which no one -- not women and girls, not gays or lesbians or transgendered people -- are murdered because of their sexuality.

I pray for justice for the victims.
I pray for justice to be done to the murderers.

Comments

[saskia139.livejournal.com]

O ye gods. I feel nauseated now.

[mankycat.livejournal.com]

There are not words powerful enough for me to describe the anger I'm feeling over this.

Horror

[unicorndelamer.livejournal.com]

...as about 1,000 people watched.

This gave me chills.

[jillwheezul.livejournal.com]

I pray that Aisha's next incarnation will be one of total bliss and joy.

[dorjejaguar.livejournal.com]

Yes. Me too.

[elevengirl.livejournal.com]

This is so awful I'm having trouble comprehending it.

[oakmouse]

I know the answer to violence is not more violence, but I so want to teleport into that soccer stadium with a machine gun and mow down the bastards who stoned her. And the ones who stood by and watched.

[amqu.livejournal.com]

Deeply distubing. Such wickedness.

[dorjejaguar.livejournal.com]

We are all praying.

[queenofhalves]

small consolation that this sort of thing used to be a lot more common...