It’s natural for people to get pissed when they discover that their close friends or family members have eloped. But executing an eloping couple? That seems a bit, well, excessive.

Under the category “completely horrifying,” CNN reports that the Taliban executed a couple trying to elope in rural Afghanistan. Apparently, the woman’s family had forced her to get engaged to a man she did not like, so she ran away to marry her lover instead. When the Taliban got wind of the transgression, they hunted the couple down, gathered the local villagers of Kash Rud to watch the execution and then shot the lovers to death. The execution was a so-called “honor killing” intended to restore the dignity of the disgraced family.

Every time I read about Sharia law, I am convinced that it was put together as a practical joke by people on Opposite Day. It’s like someone took the constitution of a Western country and then tacked the words “Not” or “punishable by death” on to every sentence just to be contrary. It is no way to govern or be governed, and it has undoubtedly made the lives of people unlucky enough to live in these theocratic countries a nightmare, as this tragic story attests.

6 Responses to “Executing Eloping Couples: Not Ideal”

1. woohoo says:

   April 15, 2009 at 9:57 am

   Thats so sad…
   I wish you had the “share” option for your stories so I could link them to my facebook. I’m sure its a lot more complicated then just adding a button, though.

   Reply
   • Sasha says:

     April 15, 2009 at 5:55 pm

     I added one — let me know if it works for you!

     Reply
     • woohoo says:

       April 17, 2009 at 8:23 am

       Thanks Sasha, I will definitely be using it, probably more then all my facebook friends would like. haha

       Reply
2. Ecotorium says:

   April 16, 2009 at 12:00 pm

   I don’t understand this kind of shit either. It’s completely unnecessary. Two lives, wasted, gone, and for what? Because they loved each other? Because her family felt shame? Terrible.

   Reply
3. Tarn says:

   April 17, 2009 at 1:26 am

   Life for women in Afghanistan is very bad, there are many suicides. Women are setting themselves on fire. Look it up if you dare – it’s simply horrifying.
   I think the Taliban need wiping from the face of the earth. And I’m a pacifist.

   Reply
4. Allison McWilliams says:

   May 14, 2009 at 7:11 am

   I know the film still that picture came from….How did you get it?

   Reply