IRANIAN WOMAN SPARES ATTACKER ACID PUNISHMENT

IRANIAN WOMAN BLINDED BY ACID ATTACK
PARDONS ASSAILANT AS HE FACES SAME FATE

http://www.rferl.org - An Iranian woman who was blinded and badly disfigured in an acid attack has stopped a retributive blinding sentence from being carried out on her attacker at the last moment.  “He was standing in the hospital operating room and the doctor was about to put acid in his eyes. It was that moment when I said, ‘No, I don’t want this,’” said Ameneh Bahrami.  The sentence of “retribution in kind” called for five drops of sulfuric acid to be put in each of Majid Movahedi’s eyes for the 2004 incident, when the spurned suitor poured a bucket of acid on Bahrami, ultimately leaving her blind and forcing her to undergo at least 17 operations.  But as the acid was about to be applied by a doctor in a live broadcast on Iranian state television, Bahrami forgave her attacker and spared him the punishment.  “The Koran gives you the right to retribution,” Bahrami says.  “But this very Koran also encourages you to pardon, since pardoning is one of the highest moral standards.”

Movahedi said Bahrami was “very generous,” but she said her attacker “hasn’t changed one bit.  This person is still dangerous for society. I think a person like Majid Movahedi should be kept in prison until the last moment of his life.”  Despite the protests raised against the cruel and inhumane nature of the retributive punishment by Iranian and international rights groups, Bahrami had insisted on it being carried out. Even after sparing Movahedi, she said she had no regrets in doing so. “Other victims after me might decide for the sentence of retribution to be carried out on their attackers, some might drop it,” she said. Bahrami also said she still wanted financial compensation from Movahedi’s family. “I was told that since you’re a woman, you’re entitled to half of the total amount of 200 million tomans [almost $200,000], which is 100 million tomans.  I am a full person and I am entitled to full amount of the blood money,” she said.

An Iranian woman Ameneh Bahrami who is victim of acid attack, pardoned a man named Majid Movahedi who was convicted of throwing acid in her face. Movahedi was sentenced for ‘qesas’ (‘eye for an eye’-style justice) to be blinded in both eyes after being charged with hurling acid in the face of the Bahrami when she repeatedly rejected his suggestions for marriage. She said she forgave the attacker man, “because God talks about ‘qesas’ (retribution) in the Koran but he also recommends pardon; since pardon is greater than qesas and I wanted to do a greater job.”  Justice is human, mercy and forgiveness are divine.  

WHAT DO THE VEDIC TEACHINGS TELL US?

When a person is situated in devotional service, his heart melts with love for Krishna. Because such a person sees all other living beings as servants of Krishna, his heart also melts with love for them. Thus he has mercy on them. ... Forgiveness is situated between mercy and humility. In this way one thinks, “I am poor and fallen, how can I be qualified to punish others?” When this thought joins with mercy, forgiveness is born. ... Krishna is eternal and real (satya), the individual spirit soul is eternal and real, the individual spirit soul’s service to Lord Krishna is also eternal and real, and the individual soul’s temporary sojourn in the material world is also real. In this way the relationship between the individual soul and Krishna, a relationship that is manifested as devotional service, is eternal and real.  Therefore eternal spiritual reality, humility, mercy and forgiveness are four things naturally included in devotional service.

Śrīla Saccidananda Bhaktivinoda Thākura :
“Jaiva-dharma” (The Universal Religion)
Chapter Eight : “Nitya-dharma O Vyavahar”
“Eternal Religion and Ordinary Activities”
Bhaktivedanta Memorial Library  -  http://bvml.org/SBTP/JD/index.html