When Faith Meets Reality

Murder, adultery, rape, armed robbery, apostasy and drug trafficking are all punishable by death under Iran's sharia law, enforced since the 1979 Islamic Revolution……….

Vocabulary of the Day

Stoning
the act of pelting with stones; punishment inflicted by throwing stones at the victim (even unto death)
wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn

Apostasy
Apostasy is the formal religious disaffiliation or abandonment or renunciation of one's religion, especially if the motive is deemed unworthy. ...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apostasy

 

Iran tells world: don't make stoning a rights issue

By Hossein Jaseb

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Foreign countries should not interfere in Iran's legal system and stop trying to turn the case of a woman sentenced to be stoned to death for adultery into a human rights issue, Tehran said on Tuesday.

A demonstrator holds a placard during a protest against stoning in Trafalgar Square, London, August 28, 2010. (REUTERS/Paul Hackett/Files)

The case of the 43-year-old mother of two, condemned to death for illicit sex and charged with involvement in her husband's murder, provoked an international outcry, with Brazil offering her asylum and the Vatican speaking out against the "brutal" punishment.

A government spokesman said the furore was based on false information about Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani's case.

"Unfortunately, (they are) defending a person who is being tried for murder and adultery, which are two major crimes of this lady and should not become a human rights issue," Foreign Ministry Ramin Mehmanparast told a news conference.

"If releasing all those who have committed murder is to be perceived as a human rights issue, then all European countries should release all the murderers in their countries."

The stoning case has further strained relations between Iran and the West which accuses the Islamic Republic of seeking nuclear weapons, something Tehran denies.

In France, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said on Tuesday he was appalled to hear about the sentence.

"This is barbaric beyond words. We condemn such acts, which have no justification under any moral or religious code," he told the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

Details of the case are hard to establish in a country where many trials take place behind closed doors.

Human rights group Amnesty International said Ashtiani was convicted in 2006 of having had an "illicit relationship" with two men and received 99 lashes. She was subsequently convicted of "adultery while being married" and sentenced to death by stoning, it said.

Mehmanparast said the adultery conviction was under review and a verdict for charges of murder and being an accomplice to murder was pending. Iranian news reports have suggested the stoning sentence might be lifted, but that Ashtiani could still be hanged.

Ashtiani's lawyer, Mohammad Mostafaei, fled to Europe to escape arrest in July and appeared at a news conference on Monday with French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner who called him a "hero of human rights".

Britain has protested at the "medieval punishment" and Italy has called for a "gesture of clemency".

Last month Iranian television aired an interview with a woman it said was Ashtiani admitting a relationship with a man who then murdered her husband. A human rights campaign group, the International Committee Against Stoning, called the TV show "toxic propaganda".

According to Amnesty International, Iran is second only to China in the number of people it executes. It put to death at least 346 people in 2008.

Murder, adultery, rape, armed robbery, apostasy and drug trafficking are all punishable by death under Iran's sharia law, enforced since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

1 Month 16 Days 17 Hours 7 Minutes 28 Seconds

If you want something done, give it to a busy person. Well, I'm a busy person now... I guess I'm getting a lot more things done, probably not according to the priority list though. Blogging should probably be at the bottom of my to-do list, but look at me now :-p Perhaps I'm doing this to free my mind of the wedding hassle and work for a while.

Recently found a cool Ap called iWedding Deluxe. Thanks to this creation, I now know precisely that I am 1 month, 16 Days and 17 hours 7 minutes and 28 seconds away from my big day. While the seconds are ticking away, I am now working on my guest list. It takes more brain exercise than I had imagined.

Well, thanks to my future sister in law and the ever-helpful Eunice, the wedding invitation card turned out quite perfectly. Without seeing it, those who know me well would already know the color and the theme of the card :) Now I just have to start running around to bring them to you!

See... work has been quite manageable until I decided to prepare for my wedding this year. The closer I am to my big day, somehow the heavier the workload becomes. Funny how things coincide.

To my bridesmaids, we shall meet soon to have the first 'brainstorming' session :D

Pasir Gudang Open 2010

Chinese Taipei Day 4

1.1.2010

09:30

The hotel served take-out breakfast to our door - Sandwiches and coffee. Something to fill the stomach before going for the real food.

11:00
Headed to 淡水. The main attraction in 淡水 is the 淡水老街 and the 渔人码头 harbor. 淡水老街 was full of food and souvenirs. I like the onion pie coz they stuff it with fresh ingredients. The shrimp rolls are good too.

FOOD: 阿给 Fried tofu filled with clear noodle，凤梨酥 pineapple cake，面包条 sweet bread stick，葱油饼 onion pie，章鱼圆 squid balls，珍珠奶茶 bubble tea，炸虾卷 fried shrimp rolls。

15:00

The agenda for that day was supposed to include some cruising along the bay on a bicycle. We did not see a place or may have missed the place for bicycle rental, so we walked all the way from 淡水老街 the 渔人码头 harbor. The walk took a good 20 minutes. Good thing that the view was nice and calm. The breeze was in a just nice temperature. The sun was so generous that day, I had to take off my jackets.

The main attraction of that 渔人码头 harbor was the bridge that is called 'Lovers' Bridge' 情人桥. Along the harbor broad walk were mainly food stalls. A local man with heavy beard was giving life a performance on mainly oldies with his keyboard, surrounded by people seated on benches, enjoying their coffee or food. A few Cafes were playing their own music, so you could hear different songs as you walk along the harbor.

Two words - Serene and peaceful. I guess the most important thing would be our own state of mind to take in the serenity and just enjoy the environment.

17:00
We took the MRT from 淡水 to 剑潭站. Next up, the famous Shi Lin Night Market 士林夜市. It could not be more crowded! Lines were building up everywhere. It was just like the Disneyland, where you just need to line up for the good stuff! I'll just go straight to the food :)

FOOD: Fried mashed potato with ham and cheese (NT60), mixed fruits (NT150), milk tea (NT35), fried bird eggs (NT20).

My personal favorites were the mash potato and the cherry tomato stuffed with some kind of processed plum. We didn't eat a lot because we've been eating non-stop since... 2 days ago? Hehe. Well, also when you travel in a pair, there is only so much food you could try.









MASKS:

Thanks to Kan Yen, I was deliberately looking out for cheap masks. I walked in MOMO pharmacy and never looked back. Muahaha. They were on promotion - buy 1 free 1 deal! ;)

The green box (10 pcs) + the pink box (10 pcs) = NT299
The white box (25 pcs) + the purple box (25 pcs) = NT 499



22:00
End

Chinese Taipei Day 3

31.12.2009

09:30

We woke up and found a tray neatly placed outside our room. Charline had prepared breakfast for us before she left for work. How sweet is that? She also left us SMSes, telling us to enjoy ourselves as if it was our own home. We logged on to our emails and Facebook for a short update, and enjoyed our breakfast in a well-decorated living room. We had the whole house to ourselves! This really amazed me because in Malaysia we are taught not to entertain strangers, let alone inviting strangers into our homes and leaving them alone at home like that.

Breakfast: Soy milk 豆奶, 肉棕, 地瓜煎饼, hamburger 汉堡, and coffee.

11:45
Charline took us to a famous place for breakfast - 财伯米糕. The rule of thumb is, when you see a line building up at the store, the food is usually good. They are used to queuing for food, for trains, for everything :)
FOOD: 米糕 3 份，汤 3 份，抄手 dumpling，腊肠 sausage，卤蛋 egg (NT240)

13:00
Again, the kind Charline sent us to a bus station near 东海大学, and we caught a free shuttle to the train station. We took the 3pm High Speed Railway (HSR) from 台中 to 台北。It only took 1 hour. Pleasant ride. (NT700 x 2 pax)

16:00
The hotel we booked seemed near to the Taipei train station on the map, but it is actually a good 15 minute walk. We had to drag our luggages all the way up and down staircases of the overhead bridges, ask for direction, and cross many roads. All of that done with the compliment of the chilly outdoor wind.

We finally checked into our hotel - 银宝旅店. Due to the holiday season, the rate was NT1580 for that day (normal rate should be around NT1300). We had to get the biggest room they have. Imagine a queen size bed, with about 2 feet from 3 sides of the bed of walking space, and 1 6ft x 6ft bathroom. Adventurous eh? It was clean, so we did not complaint. Time to wash up for the 2009 final countdown!!!

17:30
Depart for the countdown concert at 市政府 (next to 101 tower).
It was still early when we reached the destination, so we visited the 101 Tower (NT 400 x 2 pax). The 'fastest elevator on Earth' took 30 seconds to reach the 89th floor, where the indoor observatory was. I had to pop my ears twice in 30 secs to equalize. The 91st floor is an outdoor observatory, but too bad it was closed that day. The lady at the sales counter told us that it was closed due to the slight rain and wind, but I think it is just because they are preparing for the new year fireworks. It would be cool to feel the wind at the height of 91st floor though. The visit also included the 88th floor, where the tuned mass damper was located. It is also the largest damper in the world, for now.

The night view of Taipei was ok. It looks exactly like the view when you look out the window from a plane before landing. Well, I did learn a thing or two from the visit. I learned that a damper is a structure used to offset movements in the building caused by wind or earthquake. They come in different shapes and sizes. The damper for KLCC is actually the bridge connecting both towers! Cool isn't it?


19:15
Dinner at the food court in 101 Tower shopping mall.
FOOD: Rice cake 米糕 (NT45), Korean noodle set (NT130), red bean + bean curt desert 豆花+红豆 (NT45)
Souvenir: 101 Tower magnet (NT150)

20:30
The crowd was building up fast at the city square by then. We found a spot about 50 meters from the stage. Everybody either stood facing the stage or sat on the floor facing a giant screen at the back. I did both, but looked at the screen most of the time. The audience was really well-trained. The whole concert was broadcasted live to all over the world, including Malaysia. So, during commercial break on TV, artists and singers just chatted and interacted a little with the crowd. When the cue (an intro music) came up, the audience would get themselves ready to cheer as soon as they go on live TV again. Lol.

Among the artists are: 胡瓜，蓝心梅，莎莎，小鬼，叮当，林志玲，S.H.E，五月天，王力宏 (Lee Hom)。The mayor of Taipei city and the President of Chinese Taipei 马英九 were there for the countdown too! 林志玲 perform her new song from the Jay Chou movie. Not too bad actually. Lee Hom was the finale of the show. He basically had a small concert from 12 midnight to 1am. Great voice he has.

01:00 (01012010)
55,000 people headed to the MRT station.It was crazy!! The MRT operated 24 hours that day, catering for people like us. Workers are stationed at every corner of the streets and train station to control the crowd. They had to stop the crowd at the entrance of the MRT station, and only let a small group of people in at a time. Old folks, families with children and pregnant ladies are given priority. With the size of the crowd, I'd say they did a pretty good job. We reached our hotel at 02:30 am.

Happy 2010!