Iranian inhumane hanging practices

Photo credit (unknow photographer)

By: Jabbar Fazeli, MD

Many are already aware that Iran carries many executions, some of which are done in secret making it difficult to get accurate figures; The regime's preferred method is hanging.

What most are not aware of is that most, if not all, of these executions are performed by amateurs, and don't conform to the most basic of hanging practices.  The favorite method of hanging in Iran is "suspension hanging" which involves slow suffocation; Condemned Iranians are elevated from the ground by a crane, their hands tied behind their backs and a noose around their neck. This method of execution is not used anywhere else in the world, in this case the regime can claim the honor of being the first and only.

In the best case scenario for Iranians about to die by execution, the hangmen use a "short drop hanging" where the condemned is dropped from atop a car as it drives away or an empty crate that gets kicked away, leaving the person dangling. Keep in mind that this method has not been used since the mid-1800s in the rest of the world.

Even in the middle ages and the Wild West, the condemned had the benefit of being dropped from a "standard distance" during hangings in order to ensure that their neck brake promptly to give them a fast and humane death. In the 19th century the "standard drop hanging" evolved into the more scientific "long drop hanging" to make it more humane. The latest method comes with weight charts that dictate the length of the rope being used to allow for individualized drop distance and guarantee the neck to brake.

{Long drop:

The long drop process, also known as the measured drop, was introduced in 1872 by William Marwood as a scientific advancement to the standard drop. Instead of everyone falling the same standard distance, the person's weight was used to determine how much slack would be provided in the rope so that the distance dropped would be enough to ensure that the neck was broken.(http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Hanging).}

The Islamic republic of Iran's hangings are done inhumanely and  haphazardly by armatures, with only one objective, to kill the person one way or another as they stand helpless with their hands tied behind their backs.

Assuming that the "enemies of god" (political prisoners), "separatists" (equal rights activists), drug dealers, gays, "confessed killers", etc.  all deserve to die, then the regime should at least give them a clean and humane death using the same standards applied in 1872, or the standards used by the Nazis.

Pulling a person up with a noose around their neck and waiting until they stop kicking is barbaric even by barbarian standards.

There used to be many videos on YouTube showing such hangings in Iran, but they all have been flagged for their brutality and they can't be shown anymore. The only videos left online showing this hanging practice are on militant or separatists websites and so I felt it would be inappropriate to provide such links as it might distract from the point being made here.

This piece is not about asking the regime to stop killing our people, it's simply about asking the Islamic republic to consider using the "long drop", more humane, hanging method to kill us, if it's not too much trouble that is.

For the regime hangmen's convenience here is a link to a US military document from 1947 that comes with a weight chart and rope lengths (skip to page 9) as well as procedures involved in a proper hanging.

http://www.loc.gov/rr/frd/Military_Law/pdf/procedure_dec-1947.pdf

2013 hangings Update: http://www.uskowioniran.com/2013/01/hangings-for-everyone-iran.html?m=1

Hezbollah Demonstration against anti-Islam movie, Beyond the Headlines!

Photo credit: RT.com, press TV

Mr. Nasrallah used the recent controversy of the anti-islam film as an opportunity to display his political power by calling for demonstration on September 16, and have them materialize on September 17th. If only Mr. Mousavi wielded the same power in Iran, but that's another story.

It must be said that the Hezbollah demonstration was well organized and PEACEFUL, in contrast to the violent demonstrations led by Sunni fundamentalists in other islamic countries.

The Hezbollah leader used the opportunity to refocus the anger on Israel and the USA, and try to appear to defend the Christians (some of whom are his allies in Lebanon, and others allies of Assad in Syria) from being blamed for the film, which was made by an Arab Christian.

Mr. Nasrallah called for the demonstrations on TV with a different banner in the background. He used a unifying Islamic banner of the prophet behind him, as opposed to the usual sectarian Shiite banners he is more accustomed to using. 

With the Hezbollah leader attending in person, despite the risk of assassination by the Israelis, this demonstration went a long way to demonstrate that Hezbollah is still locally powerful, regardless of the survivability of their allies, Iran and Syria--I'm sure by now every political party in Lebanon knows that. 

The only open question remaining is if the Saudis are willing to accept the message Hezbollah is trying to convey, and decide not to pursue their long standing efforts to eliminate, or at least weaken Hezbollah by all means necessary. I personally doubt that, as the Saudis seem to be very driven when it comes to sectarian conflicts, and aim to win the sectarian battle in the name of all Sunnis in the region.

I don't know if you knew, but the Hezbollah demonstrations had nothing to do with the anti-Islam movie; just FYI.

Ps. Please note the similarity between the iranian revolutionary guard corps (IRGC) logo, and the Hezbollah's logo. 

Syria: Numbers and Locations of people fleeing internal violence--NO comment

The Iranian government eliminate exchange subsidy for airlines

Photo credit: airliner.nl, unkown

last updated at 11:52 EDT, Tuesday, 18 September 2012

قطع ارز دولتی شرکتهای هواپیمایی ایران

According to ISNA, The Iranian government is going to eliminate the discounted exchange rate, of 12,260 rial for the dollar, currently offered to the Iranian airlines this week. Abdul Reza Musavi, the head of the head of the Iranian airlines association, told ISNA that the airline industry is in "shock", and predicted that the airline industry is at risk of collapse without the government exchange subsidy.

Interestingly the ISNA website published this news only on its Persian version, and the English version was censored (was not able to find it despite my best effort).

In light of the recent injection of dollars into the exchange market by the Iranian central bank in response to political pressure, this new event demonstrates the possibility that the central bank is running out of forign currency to sustain even the most important subsidies, like that of the airlines.

Jerusalem Post: Top Barak aide says war with Iran not imminent

According to the JERUSALEM POST: A senior Israeli official signaled on Saturday that there would be no unilateral attack on Iran in the coming weeks, saying that international pressure had kept Tehran's controversial nuclear program in check.

Amos Gilad, top aide to Defense Minister Ehud Barak, was asked in a television interview whether the Jewish high holidays, which begin on Sunday and end on Oct. 9, would be "quiet in terms of any initiative taken by Israel." 

"What Israel will or won't do - I recommend that this remain behind closed doors," Gilad told Channel Two television in response. "But to the extent it is possible to foresee the holidays, it looks like it will be quiet...."

Commentary:

This begs the question, does this mean Israel is very close to an attack, and is just trying to do the usual deception move of appearing to let its guard down before it pounces (As it did before the Gaza war)?

The alternate explanation is that the Israeli leadership is finally getting the message from the US, that  attacking Iran before the US election is the only RED LINE the US administration is willing to offer in response to Netanyahu's forceful demands.  

America's Fallen heroes back from Libya

Photograph: NY times

The United states ambassador to Libya, Christopher Stevens, and three others were honored by the president and Mrs. Clinton as they arrived from Libya.

According to the NY times, Mr. Obama said the United States would bolster security and work with the Libyans to bring to justice those who killed the Americans. But he said the tragedy should not discourage America from playing a leadership role in the world.

He went on to say “Even in our grief we will be resolute, for we are Americans,” he said. “And we hold our head high knowing that because of these patriots, because of you, this country that we love will always shine as a light unto the world.”

Mrs. Clinton remarked about ambassador Stevens, “What a wonderful gift you gave us,” she told his family. “Over his distinguished career in the Foreign Service, Chris won friends for the United States in far-flung places. He made those people’s hopes his own. During the revolution in Libya, he risked his life to help protect the Libyan people from a tyrant, and he gave his life helping them build a better country.”

Mrs. Clinton went on to say:

“The people of Egypt, Libya, Yemen and Tunisia did not trade the tyranny of a dictator for the tyranny of a mob,”.
“Reasonable people and responsible leaders in these countries need to do everything they can to restore security and hold accountable those behind these violent acts.”

Remembering my thoughts on 9/11/2001

I wrote the "letter to the editor" below back on 9/11/2001. It's interesting, for me at least, to look back on the thoughts of that day as events unfolded. I hope you don't mind me sharing.

"When I went to work today, my day as a physician was more stressful than usual. I was excited about seeing my son soon; he had planned his long-awaited flight from Iran to the US this year, ending 10 years of separation. When I got home, I had tears in my eyes as I watched the tragedy unfold. 

I hope that, despite the horrors of the day, it will still be possible for America and Americans to avoid drawing from the perpetrators' hate. I hope we will be humane and civilized as we go about the business of identifying and punishing those who are responsible.

As America came under attack, so, too, did everything around us - our open way of life, our freedoms, and my own family reunion. We must ask ourselves how we'll face tomorrow - whether we are Pentagon workers or the Iranian son of an Iranian born doctor going to an american school after Sept, 11 2001."