Iran's 'desert vampire' executed

[Vladimir]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4353449.stm

An Iranian serial killer responsible for the deaths of at least 20 children, has been executed in front of thousands of baying spectators.

Mohammad Bijeh, 22, dubbed "the Tehran desert vampire" by Iran's press, was flogged 100 times and then hanged.

He was stabbed in the back by a victim's brother before the rope was put round his neck by another's mother.

The execution took place in the town of Pakdasht south of Tehran, near where his year-long killing spree took place.

comment: well, at least they are honest about the point of the death sentence...

[SKKY]

1. A bit brutal for my tastes, but...

...I find it hard to hold anything against the people who'd want this sort of thing to happen to someone who kills children.

[kypper]

2. Nobody should get that

What is more frightening is how this kind of torture feeds the rage of the families of the victims. It doesn't help them move on... it just makes them more angry.

It's not like this sort of thing is something you just 'get over', but it sure as hell isn't 'healing'.

I have absolutely no doubt that if this kind of public execution were brutally televised from the USA, American audiences would cheer too. Some families in the south would be more than happy to slap around the killers.

[shadowknows69]

3. I have no doubt that it eventually will be

people would pay 39.99 pay per view for it here.

[kypper]

5. Why should the middle-east want democracy??

There they can get this shit free, without their money flowing into the pockets of the Retard-Elite (aka Bush)

[Poppyseedman]

4. Some families in the south ???

Yes, of course I forgot that you Canadians are much more civil people then us low belly southerners who are just a bunch of knuckle dragging, gap toothed, stupid, Neanderthals one step up from "deliverance" more than willing to take the law into their own hands.

Keep your elitist prejudices and snobby attitudes to yourself.

[kypper]

6. Excuse me?

We don't have the death penalty.
I have no illusions about Canada, though. Alberta would be more than happy to enjoy the same event, as would many Ontarians.

Edit: I did say SOME families. There are more people in states like Texas vocally supporting the execution of the retarded, rapists, child molesters, etc than in states like New York. That's just reality. It doesn't mean that there isn't a family in NY who would love a good hanging, nor that there isn't a family in Tenessee who wouldn't.

You might want to have a doctor look at that knee-jerk.

[Poppyseedman]

7. That same doctor examining my knee should look at

that crick in your neck from keeping your nose pointed in the air.

Your original post was quite the broad paint stroke.

[kypper]

8. Eyes looking forward

It was meant to be broad... many Americans would love to see live torture and hangings.

Whether I say that being a Canadian or an American (yeah, my wife is American) doesn't change the reality of it.

Why don't you look into identifying the problem instead of reacting against the messenger.

[Poppyseedman]

9. We can agree on something

Many Americans from all regions of the country, even Canadians, would love to see live torture and hangings.

The only problem, of course, is that fact you denigrated a entire region of the country in making your point.

[kypper]

14. Whatever

I apologize if Texas is the first state to come to mind when I think of wrongful execution and glorification of revenge.
I doubt, however, that I'm remotely alone.

[bitchkitty]

15. Whoa. Like Canada doesn't have

bigots or racists, or murderers or criminals.

Using stereotypes is not progressive, no matter where you live.

[kypper]

19. Christ...

I give up. I can't find any adequate poll that compares death penalty support by state.
The best article I could find was at PBS.

The legal and cultural elements there, as outlined in this article, make it a hotbed for execution and "frontier justice" . Nearby (edited) areas have similar heritages, so similar legislative developments.

Canada has had very different experiences.

It's explicable. It just is reality that areas like Texas have far more executions than elsewhere, and as I recall, some of it has encouraged observence by victim's families.

[RedCloud]

23. On the other hand...

I lived in Florida for some time (six years) and the glee with which the rabble told everyone to cut down on the electricity, so and so is going to fry in "Old Sparky"... invokes the Bob Dylan tune where they are selling postcards of the hanging...

Indeed many racist lynch mobs did murder and did take photos and did send them through the US mail. Where do you all suppose this took place?

It is amazing how politicians can simple dangle the corpse or future corpse of a human being and the rabble foams at the mouth for an execution. They ought to just come clean and say,"Vote for me so I can kill more of you for your enjoyment..."

[bitchkitty]

24. Well, you can say that it took place in Tallahassee,

and that people in Tallahassee are prone to this sort of thing. Or you can say that it took place in Florida, and that Florida citizens tend to take much pleasure in electrocuting criminals. Or you could say that it takes place in the U.S., and that this whole country is infested with people that delight in executing people.

Or you could say that bad things happen everywhere. I lived in the South for most of my life. But I've lived in Portland for the last 5 years, and have seen that the races segregate themselves here, and outside Portland, there are more rednecks than I ever saw in Georgia, and I lived in Lawrenceville! But I certainly don't get or give the impression that all Oregonians are racist, teeth-challenged buffoons, even though Oregon has its fair share of them.

[Gyre]

10. Excellent.

The deliberate murder of "at least" 20 children should be met with an excrutiating demise.

Gyre

[Vladimir]

11. Hold onto that thought

when the media explain to us how we must invade Iran to stop such 'barbaric' practices...

[Rann]

16. agree

I second that:

20 children no mercy for him

[nookiemonster]

26. I couldn't agree more

No tears for this bastard. Sorry.

[Zynx]

12. Eh, someone kills my brother I'll gladly flog him to death myself

No sympathy.

[emad]

13. Iran's 'desert vampire' executed

BBC

An Iranian serial killer who murdered at least 20 children has been executed in front a large crowd of spectators.

Mohammad Bijeh, 22, dubbed "the Tehran desert vampire" by Iran's press, was flogged 100 times before being hanged.

A brother of one of his young victims stabbed him as he was being punished. The mother of another victim was asked to put the noose around his neck.

The execution took place in Pakdasht south of Tehran, near where Bijeh's year-long killing spree took place.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4353449.stm

[beam me up scottie]

17. dupe-self delete

nt

[BOHICA06]

18. But Hanged don't mean just Hanged!!

...he was strung-up and then hoisted on a crane to let his body weight pull the noose to the point of suffocation. He was doing the kick'n chick'n for a while ...


Punishment and Revenge and Total Rehabilitation all at once.

[XemaSab]

28. Of the 3 ways to die by hanging

That's the slowest and most miserable.

They really thought this one out.

[byronius]

20. Individual murder? I understand. But the State -??

...I don't think any state should be given the right to commit murder. Yes, the crime was heinous, but consider the legal process in even the most developed state -- fraught with jealousies and politics. The Bush State loves to commit murder under the radar, and would even more dearly love the absolute right to commit murder publicly. They would of course be willing to fabricate mounds of evidence in this cause. Everyone they don't like is guilty -- we've seen it, haven't we?

Most court systems end up through human frailty to be a roll of the dice. To empower them with the ultimate penalty is to grant them misplaced confidence.

And torture? What does that accomplish but the darkening of the quantum foam for all?

I lived for much of my childhood in Dhahran. The harshness of the penalty for the "Vampire" is an unbridled expression of deep cultural urges that I have seen up close and do not respect. It is not a viable ethic. The state should prevent and oppose crime in as dispassionate a manner possible. No killing. No torture. Just exclusion, study, and perhaps a choice for the condemned to go asteroid mining.

[beam me up scottie]

25. Very wise, byronius.

Unfortunately lately we seem to be in the minority when it comes to opposing torture and murder, at least when it comes to those who committed offenses against children.
Welcome to DU anyway.
:hi:

[Martti]

21. sigh..

Just what good did it do to anyone to torture him before death?
Speaks volumes of humanity, no doubt..

Mara

[The_Casual_Observer]

22. And how many of those victims were brought back to life because

of this vengeance? 2..maybe 3 or 4? What possible good can come out of that?

[Straight Shooter]

27. I have a cold-blooded, hard-hearted attitude to those who kill children.

I would have much preferred that he be hung until he borderline asphyxiates, then be allowed to revive. Give him a day or two to "recuperate," then go through the whole process of flogging him and hanging him once more, again to the point of borderline asphyxiation, then revive him.

Repeat this procedure for every dead child who died in terror, but on the twentieth time, make sure this "vampire of the desert" dies.

As I said, I'm cold-blooded and hard-hearted to those who prey upon and kill children.

[_TJ_]

29. I dunno

This guy was probably seriously mentally ill. Sane people just
don't do things like that :(

I'm not saying this makes his crimes any less evil, but if it is
possible that he was not fully in control of his actions I find
it hard to condemn him to death.

I doubt the court that convicted him would have been interested
in this type of argument though.

[Straight Shooter]

30. Sane people most definitely do things like this.

They are merely devoid of normal feelings, but they know the difference between right and wrong. Such people are pathologically deviant.

True, I don't know this guy's story, but frankly, considering the toll, I don't care. 20 children. He terrified and killed 20 children. That means he had to plan his acts.

Anyway, welcome to DU.