Things that bother me - 1

Quick administration of Justice indeed!

Living in a secular democratic and tolerant country, I hope I can talk about it! In a land where open criticism of the Judiciary is an offence under the law, I hope appreciation is not illegal. I would hate to be hauled through our courts, for committing anything remotely illegal. Our courts do provide justice, most times, sometime even in our own lifetime. However, the interim period becomes very testing, torturous and as close to hell as could be, if there is one. Of course, if you have a large disposable income and willing to be flexible, then you have nothing to worry about the whole system. I fail on both counts. So, I have to be very careful.

However, when freedom of speech is guaranteed by our constitution, let me use that freedom to talk about things that make me uncomfortable. So, let me go back to the quick administration of Justice.

A small item of news in the inside pages of the newspaper today shocked me. Three days back the Taliban had "caught" an unwed pregnant woman. They imprisoned her and charged her with adultery, which is the normal course. The judgment was prompt as is normal in such cases. She was publicly flogged 200 lashes which is normal in such cases. And yesterday in public, they put 3 bullets into her head, which is also normal in such cases. Case closed.

Now, why do I get horrified and revolt when normal justice is delivered so quickly - when I am a strong proponent of quick justice. Well, there are large numbers of people who may or may agree with the above dispensation and celebrate. There may be few who feel nauseated, and puke into their personalised kerchief - because, that's the diversity that we all admire! Be that as it may, why am I not comfortable with that justice?

Well, the woman got impregnated, right? Now, how did that happen? Was it a lover, who wooed, courted and showered her with gifts and poetry? Had he promised to marry her? That element is a missing, so it does not go to make a great Leila Majnu story.

Was she cornered in some lonely place, and beaten into submission and made a sex-slave by a horde of brave Taliban soldiers - and subjected to months of torture to satiate their lust – till she became pregnant and so sick, that she was of no further use? This story is also not told, so we cannot chronicle the war dairy of the brave Taliban soldier, either.

However, the story is told that a man responsible for making this poor woman to commit such a horrible, unpardonable crime, attracting only the ultimate punishment - torturous death, was let off free. No reason is given for this too, as is normal in such cases.

The question that bothers me is this. Was this outlandish deliverance of justice, an act to please God or man?

For my own benefit someone please tell me, does Islam have any part to play in this - even remotely?