Shia Muslim has been given a suspended prison sentence

United States
September 24, 2008 3:04pm CST
A devout Shia Muslim has been given a suspended prison sentence for forcing two boys to beat themselves during a religious ceremony. A jury at Manchester Crown Court found Syed Mustafa Zaidi, 44, guilty of two counts of child cruelty last month. The boys, aged 13 and 15, were forced to beat themselves with a zanjeer whip, with five curved blades. Zaidi, of Station Road, Eccles, was given a 26-week sentence, suspended for 12 months. A second order which will also last for 12 months means that if Zaidi is found to have allowed or encouraged anyone under the age of 16 to beat themselves he could be returned to court for sentencing.
2 people like this
2 responses
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
25 Sep 08
That is unjust. If a Catholic priest or a Christian was found encouraging children to beat themselves, they would have thrown the book at them. But because a Muslim does it, it is all right. It shows how bad justice is. Twenty-six week suspended sentence is too light. He should be kept in jail for much longer. Is that not called contributing to a delinquency of a minor?
• United States
25 Sep 08
no unfortunately these days its called peaceful Islam
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
28 Sep 08
Sounds like they are afraid to tell the truth. I suppose if someone said in a newspaper or on Tv, that Islam is spread by force and dissenters are killed, tortured, etc. they would be sued up and down and be attacked by those 'peaceful' Muslims. And thanks for the best response.
• Canada
24 Sep 08
I read about the same thing on here not along ago, and it prompted me to do some research about Ashura. some things are done symbolically, and some things are taken way too far. If a person in some culture rips their clothes as a sign of mourning or suffering, this may be symbolic of suffering or being hurt, but done in a way that doesn't hurt their body. I am not sure exactly to what extreme Ashura is taken in the Shia sect of Islam, but I feel that the extent it was taken in this case and probably many others, was excessive.