That allegation that the centurion, David, Jonathon and even Ruth were even remotely gay is a load of rubbish. Is it always assumed that because you 'love' your same sex friend that it is in a gay context? What rubbish! The bible clearly states that homosexuality is an abomination. Yes, not only homosexuals will go to hell if they do not stop their practices but also fornicators and adulterers, who are straight in nature but doing things out of the order of God. Everyone is entitled to their opinion but at the end of the day, right is right and wrong is wrong and it is a very dangerous thing to twist the bible to suit your beliefs. God and speak for himself, it is very plain to see. As for Jesus' comments, that refers to the state of a eunuch, who is someone who does not have the desire to marry but is not homosexual. Why would he sanction such a thing? God does not allow people to be born that way, it is the way that they choose to take. Jesus can save anyone from these acts.

Eul, Surrey,

That is true many straight couples are sterile, but then again that is only very few. (I have my own views about gays that i can't go into here without getting in to a lot of trouble).

The execution of gays is probably a bit extreme, but then Islam is a very different religion & if they think that is right & declare it is right in their laws then let them do it.

Christians haven't executed gays for a long long time, & many tolerate it now.

Jonny, Bristol, England

Lev: Old Testament were the words and opinions of a far right winged, brain washed man, not god, god does not write books!

Bradley, Essex UK,

continued sodom

There are several quotes then withing the pages of the new testament that appear to suggest that homos are directly going to hell etc..... well they are not saying this at all....there is not time here for me to go into it..but if anyones interested leave a message on here and ill speak about it.

It seems outrageous to christians that the roman soldier who "loved" his slave must have been gay... but the story illustrates that he was...it was acceptable that a roman centurian had a male lover...always was! and jesus healed that slave for the centurian!
David and jonnathon..another love affair between males as it says "David loved Jonathon"...and he says to his love.."I love thee more than any woman"...but still the right wing uninformed christian is out raged that they could be gay!!
The story of ruth...... theres lots of reference to homosexual love in the new testament.... Jesus even refered to some who are born "Not to marry"..... continued next post

colin, leeds, uk

It is stated in the above article that homosexuals do not reproduce. In our modern day, it can be said that many many heterosexuals also do not reproduce.

Jewel Bocks, St-Hyacinthe Québec, Canada

How absolutely horrible and barbaric, but unfortunately
not surprising since Iran is ruled now by totally insane
religious fundamentalists. Religious fundamentalists
are responsible for so many of the world's wars, and
so much of the world's hatr3ed and bigotry.

Jeff Smith, Mount Pleasant, USA, Texas

Thank you very much for covering this alarming story.

Thank God that our nation will never be like that.

Not even if the evil British National Party ever get into power, as they have gay people and Jewish people in their party.

John Curd, Southport, England, UK.

In the old TV show Star Trek, the federation had a rule called the "prime directive" that is, let cultures evolve without outside interference. It seemed like a rational rule. The Chinese are following that rule now and are winning friends all over the world. The west on the other hand says you need to think and act like us or else. Different cultures have different values and different ideas of what is right and wrong. I am not a believer in multiculturalism for that reason. If Iran wants to follow Islamic law and give the death penalty to gays than that is their right. If the West does not like it, we can always ask the iranians to allow homosexuals to immigrate to the West. They may surprise us and agree to it. However, the really sad part is that religious conservatives will probably protest such a plan.

Think about it, did any country offer to take the jews off Hitler's hands and save them from suffering and death?

Andy, Miami, Fl

What's the difference between killing men who have sex with the 'wrong' partner and women who are killed for wearing the 'wrong' clothes? One gets lots of media space, the other one doesn't.

Brigitte Lechner, Manchester, North West

Is it just me or does this remind anyone of the Pink/Black triangle system in Nazi Germany where gays and lesbians were gassed purely for something they couldn't help?

Eddie, Denbigh, Wales

No-one could or should deny that punishments for something as nebulous and personal as sexual preference are to be condemned. However it did strike me as interesting that of the "Sharia’s victims" cited at the foot of the article, sexual preferences were often not the only "crime" committed by the individuals mentioned - other crimes included kidnapping, rape, knifing and being accomplices to murder. Dare I suggest that these other crimes may have been part of the reason for such harsh sentences, or does this all have to be about sexual preference, as usual, ad infinitum?

Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could all just agree to leave private matters private, with no grandstanding from either "conservatives" or "liberals"? A blissful silence, broken only by the creaking of bed posts... I hope all public agendas regarding sexuality are abandoned sooner rather than later. Highlighting and harping on difference only provokes resentment.

J, London, UK

"""the massive crimes committed by Israel are left unmentioned"

If they are unmentioned, as you claim, can you explain how you heard of them?""

On alternative News sites which are not silenced and stifled by the Israel lobby of course. ie: Not around here.

Steve, PERTH, Australia

When reading in the Bible about Sodom and Gomorrah it was an indication that, that particular country was headed for decay.
If you really think about it, it's the same interpretation God allowed it to be destroyed, God hasn't changed.

darl, humble, texas

Hey Mr. Hicox, the Old Testiment also declares eating shellfish an "abomination" punishable by death, why are you not down at your local Red Lobster protesting that abomination? Leviticus also prohibits getting one's hair trimmed, especially near the temples, should you be put to death for that? Play football at all? I hope you wear gloves so you don't touch pig's skin - is that another one of those pesky "death" one too? Huh!?

Kurt marin, New York, NY

"the massive crimes committed by Israel are left unmentioned"

If they are unmentioned, as you claim, can you explain how you heard of them?

Allen, whoknows, USA

If a man has sexual relations with a man, he should be put to death. It is a simple as that. That is Old Testament Bible and I and millions of other Christians bow to the authority of scripture. However, New Testament Bible says that homosexuals can change their ways and be forgiven, and I and millions of other Christians humbly and gratefully bow to this wonderful grace and authority of scripture as well. The Christian message is then that we are the HATE the sin, but to LOVE the sinner.

John Hicox, Princeton, USA/Kentucky

Imagine the world without the likes of Kenneth Williams and Larry Grayson....no wonder Islam is so dull.
It's a male-friendly religion/cult with little to offer anybody - except enslavement & misery.

Perhaps it's because they don't have Pubs - a place you can go to to solve the world's problems....you reach for a beer - not a Kalashnikov. Mohamed never anticipated Boddingtons did he....poor Muslims.

Phil, Preston,

When is the West going to learn not to meddle in other nations affairs? It is none of our business what they do. It is their country, ther culture. How do you justify our arrogance? As long as human rights violations in Germany, France, Canada (anf they are absolutely stunning!) and the massive crimes committed by Israel are left unmentioned, are even tolerated and encouraged, who the hell are we to point fingers? Gerry Frrederics

Gerryy Frederics, Santiago, Chile

Vote with your feet, stop going on hoildays to Iran. They soon get the message. I will be sell my time-share!

seamonkey, southampton,

it was in tehran, 1990, i was waking down a busy street when an older woman walked towards me, complete with chador and overcoat

i took a second look, then a third, and noticed the whiskers underneath the pancake makeup, blue eye shadow and rosy cheeks, the thick muscular hairy legs from underneath the overcoat

as he walked by, i caught a couple other people with smiles on their face, shooting me knowing glances -

of course such things don't exist in iran - must have been a figment of our collective imagination...

todd, vancouver,

Religon is not the problem. If the whole Middle-East was populated by secular athiests the same outrages would be happening. Islam is only a mechanism, an attempted justification only accepted by morally vacuous Westerners. It is not the religion, it is the people. And until the people progress beyond this cultural immaturity the same horrors will keep happening over and over again.

James, Sunderland, England, UK

We all have DNA in our bodies that control our sexuality, whether it be the 'normal' heterosexual or the 'less normal' homosexual sequence. It all depends on which sequences get switched on or not as the case may be. It has nothing to do with being leftist or atheist, but it is simply appalling to think that due to a piece of sexual orientation biochemistry individuals may be killed in such an arbitrary fashion. Darwinian, natural selection has given rise to what is 'normal' in that a particular species needs to reproduce but I doubt that even Darwin would have proposed 'natural selection' taking place through ignorant and bigoted dark age thought. Intelligence after all, is what has distinguished us from other species. What went wrong here?

Mark, Malaga, Spain

And the liberals here actually want these people to have nuclear power! Hilarious considering Iran is about as left as my right foot.

Sam, Birmingham, west midlands

there are "good" moslem men sleeping with each other, with prostitutes, getting drunk and not giving to charity all over the middle east. yet these are the same people who are most vociferous and violent when it comes to the public face. sexism, racism, homophobia, bigotry... it's all a sign of weakness and knowledge of their own moral bankruptcy. and it has nothing to do with religion.

obviously, any reliance by arguments on this thread to references to ancient texts is ridiculous, even assuming they weren't simply the creation of those who wished to control the ignorant and superstitious. however, if we were to look at some of the opinions expressed considerably more recently by lefties and liberals, I'm sure we could have a fine time poking fun.

jem, london, uk

I'm a lefty atheist, and the remarks above are ludicrous. I am appalled at the human rights abuses reported in the article, and particularly so by the fate sufered by powerless women punished for the behaviour of their men. You can stand for what is good without standing for any god.

Anne Gray, Bridport, Dorset

There are many people in the West who openly express similar sentiments. This type of thinking is not confined to Iran.

Neil, Gloucestershire, England

Religion kills. Who the hell wants to pray to a stupid god that asks its subjects to kill and destroy (and make suffer in any possible way) any non believer. How absolutely ridiculous. As for the people who believe. You are all blind fools. Poverty promotes religion. We will all be better off in about one thousand years when there will be no religion, and only one language. Only then will the martians come and see us. Hey, come on. There's more chance of martians being up there than an almighty one who loves to see children suffer in absolute poverty whilst seeing their fathers killed and mothers raped. Again, religion is a killer.

david, madrid,

Why are we hearing these stories about Iran when even more honor killings are being done in Iraq by Kurds. We are supposed to be there to help the civilian population but since the start of Bush's war the extremists have been given free reign.

We may not agree with Iran's attitude and eventually it will change if the people want it to but it is none of our business.

To all those pontificating about how thing were in our past Christian, Jew or otherwise it took us a long time to learn so why not allow other countries to make their own decisions.

joe, Edinburgh, Scotland

I'm sure most Christians wouldn't condone the killing of gay people. What is disturbing is the silence of the Roman Catholic Church over these barbaric executions. I've never heard any strong condemnation by the Church of these crimes. Likewise, I've never heard the the Cardinals and Archbishops (who are so vocal when comes to objecting to the Civil Partnership and gay adoption) make any public condemnation of homophobic murders and savage beatings. Silence, in my opinion, can be a form of approval when you are in a position of power.

Kevin Sell, Peterborough,

I see no point in the killing, it leads to just more killing. i just dont see why people are not just open minded enough to see what life other people choose, no matter what it is.

In truth, the idea of killing people someone for the sexuality is wrong, just like the idea of me killing someone for killing a "gay" person is wrong. No matter how much it angers me i would never do it.

Guess religion is just an excuse for fighting and killing behind rules..

Gavin, Sheffield, UK

The death penalty for Homosexuals in the UAE? That'll surprise some of my friends!

Rick T, Dubai, UAE

And only last week in the letter pages of this very newspaper we have Rowan Atkinson and his merry band of prominent homosexuals advocating that we don't really need anything written into law concerning homosexual hate crimes as we have enough "intelligent people" around to stop this sort of thing happening in the future.

I bet Mahmoud Asqari and Ayad Marhouni, amongst, no doubt, plenty of other Iranian nationals, had wished just such law was in statute there. How else are we to compare ourselves against this barbarism?

Stephen, Coventry, UK

You gotta love the lefty atheists, whose only response to these outrages is "....gasp.....but Christians believe the same thing!!" Their multicultural brainwashing has convinced them that Islam MUST have undergone the same liberal reforms as Judaism and Christianity, despite no scholarly backing for that position. Of course, the fact that no historical Christian schools of jurisprudence, and no modern Christian denominations, teach a literal interpretation of that verse from Leviticus doesn't interfere with their fundamentalist muliticulturalist orthodoxy---that all religions teach the same thing and are equally bad. It would be funny if it weren't so sad. You British would do well to go back and read the brilliant tomes of your countryman, C.S. Lewis, as he despaired of a future led by "men without chests". "When 'what is good' has been debunked, all that remains is 'what I want'".

That's not a very encouraging foundation for society, in my opinion.

Kyle F., Cape Ann, Massachusetts, USA

Remember, Islam is a religion of peace and tolerance!

John, Chicago, IL USA

Perhaps Peter Mandelson should avoid making any goodwill visits to Iran. Psyching up the first world public for the pending attack on Iran? Had noticed increased demand for mobile cranes from Mideast buyers at the Yokohama construction machinery auctions.

Andrew Milner, Yokohama, Japan

this is all grotesque, and this country is OK with supporting these countries that violate human rights? oh, thats right the US thinks waterboarding is OK, I guess it depends on who you are whether violating your rights is OK, and apparently it is OK to kill gay people. hey, Christians, dont you agree with "thou shall not kill"? only God can judge anyone. there are more axis of evil countries that are evil on HUMAN RIGHTS...we are not after the bigger violators apparently....economic sanctions sound good..stop buying that middle eastern oil until they grant human rights to women and gay people. I think im getting an electric car after reading this article..the way things are sickens me and I only get sicker day after day. anybody watch PBS's "the war" ?? tune this in and you will realize mankind never learns from their mistakes, makes me ashamed to be a human being.. I dont even want to wake up sometimes to face another day reading headlines of another senseless murder or tragedy

D Barone, Medina, Ohio

Dear Idiots,
Get over it and get focused. It doesn't matter what is or is not written or implied in the Old or New Testament. The fact is that Islam is torturing and killing women and gays TODAY and Jews and Christians are not. So leave your moral equivalence in the rubbish bin and be intellectually honest.with yourselves.
Regards,
John, An American who used "rubbish bin" in a sentence.

John, Chicago, USA

Correction, MOST Christians would NOT "happily join in the killing" of anyone. It's not the nature of the belief system. Any anyone who would is not a true Christian and would use any excuse to exercize their violent nature.

Ironic that this is about respect of others and their rights yet you dissrespect a large percentage of the population by calling their belief "magical fairies in the sky". Do you see your hypocrisy, Harry?

Lee, Antioch, Ca.

Harry Haines,

Simply name one Christian denomination that supports the death penalty for Gays. The Catholic Church is against the death penalty for all criminals and against abortion. Name one liberal organization that is against abortion?

Rex

Rex, San Antonio, Texas

erm cbs, & Nick

I think you'll find John has a point. The old testament contains multiple references to homosexuality and the treatment of those that practice it. For example: "Homosexual acts are an abomination to God", Lev 18:22 or "If a man has sex with another man, kill them both". Lev 20:13

No where does it refer that this applies only to Jews. The Christian religion still accepts the old testament as the word of god as the basis of the faith. Yes it is an outdated bunch of nonsense that advocates a whole number of hate crimes but the fact remains that modern Christians still follow the teachings within. For a Christian to condemn these views is simple hypocrisy.

It is the blinkered view of all the so called 'moderate' Christians and Muslims that allow these extreme varients of their faiths to flourish.

Barry, Newbury, Berks

I very much doubt that there are quite a few Christians who would happily join in the killing of homosexuals. In most cases, condemnation of the gay life style does not equate to a wish to murder gays.

Richard D. Hecht, Newport News, VA USA

This summer two gays in Saudi Arabia were sentenced to 7000 lashings each. The first two sets of 50 were administered on back to back days (no pun) -- after that the press dropped the story. If this doesn't define torture--nothing does. Congress and press doesn't seem interested in real torture.

Ted Starbuck, redwood city, calif, USA

don't like to admit it but appears to be time to start supporting Bush and Cheney

Anthony, SF, USA

I have to assume that, just as there are relatively sane Christians, so too there are relatively sane Mulims who do not support these crimes against humanity. We have quite a few Christians in the US who would happily join in the killing of gay people, so I suspect this insanity has more to do with the nature of monotheism itself, and particularly with its more psychotic elements. When people believe in magical fairies in the sky, disembodied patriarchs, and a vareity of practices best left in the distant past, we shoulbn't be surprised by the resulting criminal behavior.

Harry Haines , San Antonio Texas, USA

I'm a bisexual myself, and yes many people dont agree with that; and I believe that to be okay, some people do have prejudice for what they dont understand, like most people, but this... People being killed for who they are? To be bisexual or gay in this world, even in a Western world, is hard enough. I'm 17... And it's took me years to get where I have come. There needs to be more done about this, and not going off subject, but in the Western culture too.

Matt, Oxford,

The Left are in a bit of a pickle over Islam aren't they! They want to be seen to be supporting it in the UK because of their multicultural agenda, but at the same time it appears to stand for many things that they hate.

Andrew Brown, derby, uk

If i believed in a god--which i dont, i would want to believe in a god that celebrated creation , not torture and murder. I feel sorry for people who base their belief around hate. how pathetic! Some people are naturally psychopathic and and use religeon to fit in with their sick view of the world.
Look at the middle ages when women were murdered to fit in with some mens belief about witches.

Killing women in Iran for alleged adultery and giving men lashes. How times havent changed under some regimes.!..and
The gentleman who talked of executing gays would probably not think twice about executing his political opponents.A murderous thug if ever there was one.

dave, london, uk

John you have such insight !

Modern day Islamic talks about hanging gays and you spring into action by pointing out the attitudes of Jews
5000 YEARS AGO !

Typical leftard

cbs, NY, NY

We just invited the Saudi King to Buckingham Palace for executing gay men and denying women the right to vote. Looks like this Iranian minister is working towards a knighthood!

Jayson Bank, London, UK

If you have oil for sale - you can do whatever you like.

It is sheer hypocrisy on the part of New Labour and its "ethical" foreign policy. Why not impose sanctions for these crimes against humanity?

Alan Marsh, Ely,

John, you are wrong. The Jewish Bible does not have any opinion at all about homosexuality - except in relation to the jews. This prohibition for the jews was related to a specific conception of their role as a nation of priests. The Torah does not condemn homosexuals. It does have a specific moral code (the Noahide Code) relating to the behaviour of humanity generally & homosexualty is not mentioned. The Christians have their own take on the Torah - that's not the fault of the jews!!

Nick, London,

And are these clowns about to get thermo- nuclear weapons?

alan bond, lancaster, england

Why aren't so-called civilized countries like the United Kingdom and the USA not standing up when it concerns gay people who are hanged, tortured and maimed in countries that are so-called friends of these countries?

Pakistan, Egypt and other countries get hundreds of millions of support from these countries, but meanwhile trample all possible right of gay people!

When does the hypocrisies of fi the UK and the USA stop?

Adrian Masters, Amsterdam,

The Jewish/ Christian Old Testament is of the same opinion as far as gay men are concerned ! Interestingly enough, there is no mention of Lesbians at all (Moses most likely didn`t know what they were), and I doubt if the Koran mentions them either.
The question , however, remains....why should I be prepared to `respect´ religions that adhere to such barbarism ?

John, Berlin, Germany