Tehran release of female Inmates...
Payvand's Iran News / Tehran Municipality and Mehr News Agency
02-Mar-2009 (12 comments)

SAMA reported that Tehran Islamic City Council has approved that all female inmates of Tehran who owe money and have been behind the bars for this reason will be released by Tehran Municipality.

According to the plan, financial facilities will be given to the women who are in prison for such charges.

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Abarmard

Kaveh Nouraee

by Abarmard on

I agree. You approach is can (should) it be better? Yes, was this good, yes. This is in no way a resolution but an small step for some small group of people, temporarily. But I take it.


Kaveh Nouraee

I'm very glad that they're released....

by Kaveh Nouraee on

But, I'm sorry, I would hardly call the release of these women an act of nobility, or a gesture of humanity, kindness or compassion.

The fact that a debtor's prison still exists in this day and age is barbaric, and antiquated. It has been established long ago that the interests of justice can never be served by imprisoning someone who owes a monetary debt.

What's worse is that this example of uncivilized behavior exists in one of the oldest civilizations in the history of mankind. It's embarrassing beyond measure.

 


Abarmard

Dear Anonymous Observer

by Abarmard on

I can't argue with your point, you are correct IF bankruptcy was the problem! The financial system in Iran is very different, in a way non existent. Therefore the "crime" to cheat goes both ways. Sometimes the cheating is done based on the most horrifying stories of these women and old men!

Regardless of the situation, you can't have a bankruptcy system in Iran similar to the idea that you can't have all you can eat buffets ;)

It's just a different system and this is a right gesture, a kind one to allow some of the innocent poor to have one more chance. Plus, keeping many of these people who are not really criminals, but have made mistakes is more costly for the society as a whole.

Perhaps it is the election year and that's why they were freed, but even then it shows a positive sign. We got a lot of work to do to make Iran a civil society and proper living destination, that I don't doubt.


Anonymous Observer

Abarmard

by Anonymous Observer on

There is nothing to learn by any country with an advanced legal system.  Imprisoning debtors is nothing short of barbaric to begin with.  That is why debtors’ prisons were abolished long ago in the United States and many other western countries.  While fraud should be, and is, a criminal offense, simply owing money or being bankrupt should not be a crime in any advanced legal system.  The relief of bankruptcy should be available to all those who, for one reason or another, cannot pay their debts.  As people below me have pointed out, the rationale behind that approach is to allow individuals to get back to work, start over and be productive members of the society.  Jailing them will only place a burden of the community and the individual’s family.

If IRI wants to show its humanity, it should release women activists, bloggers and journalists.  It should also change its 7th Century inheritance and custody laws when it comes to women so that they are not forced to suffer under abusive husbands out of fear of automatically losing custody of their children if they file for divorce.  It can also allow publication of all the newspapers that it has shut down, and stop beating women on the streets if their “hejab” is not proper.   

This act, just like anything else with IRI, is a propaganda tactic designed to fool the gullible.    


gol-dust

they should free most of financial related prisoners! ZanOMard

by gol-dust on

Number one problem for most families is financial. In the west if you cannot pay they put lien on your house or you claim bankruptcy. unless you are a big corporation which government would bail them out ($billions). In Iran if you cannot pay, you go to jail no matter how small your debt! And you stay in jail until you or someone pays for you. Now he cannot work and the family gets even much more devestated. Many families are destroyed this way, and I know many!

The real financial criminals should go to jail including all members of congress and head of different entities. Did I mention I was talking about Iran? But I guess I could be talking about the US as well! This should include CEO's of AIG, Lehman Bros, etc Did you see how MADOF went home even though he stole $50 billions?!


News Goffer

Felonies

by News Goffer on

Unlike in American laws, in Iranian laws owing debts and writing bad checks are stipulated as felonies.  This makes someone who owes others money, or one who is bankrupt, a felon subject to punishment as a criminal.

These women and many men like them are not criminals per se.  They owe money.  In this case they owed the Municipality of Tehran which had in turn taken them to court, resulting in imprisonment in the face of their inability to pay their debts.

These laws, much like all other laws in Iran must change to allow debtors to work and earn money to pay their debts.  When ordinary people are jailed and kept next to real criminals, their lives are changed in many different ways for the worse.

It was a nobel act to set them free.

However, this being an elections year, and with Tehran Mayor Mr. Ghalibaaf's running for presidency, these acts are nothing short of a public relations plan to endear him to Iranians and to secure their votes.

Iranian laws and Judicial system are flawed and barbaric, criminal themselves in their approach to the very citizens whose rights they are supposed to protect.

 


default

abar-soft on crime

by catia (not verified) on

So at what point are you going to think about punishing criminals? If they are poor, they need to take care of it some other way, and stop victimizing other people. It is wrong to treat criminals with compassion, it sends the wrong message to society. They need to be dealth with harshly everywhere, with prolonged sentences, to prohibit them from reoffending, and prevent the first timers to go through that path. And they need to work for their existance in prison.

Also, the punishments in US justice system are too soft sometimes. For manslaughter, people get a few years, if that. They should pay with their lives. They molest a poor kid, they get probation? They should be killed. For drunk driving they get a few months may be? They are endangering other people's lives, and should get behind bars for a long time, those DUI offenders.

Life is too precious. For a few that are a hazard to the society (e.g. thieves, DUI, etc), put them behind bars, for prolonged periods. For anyone killing anyone else, raping women, or molesting children, execute them, quick. There is no reason to waste resources.


Abarmard

They were not thiefs

by Abarmard on

Sometime there are hardships and people make a mistake. These women, many of them very poor, are not the criminals. 

I like the move by the Tehran city council. I know for some of the people, any move by the government is a bad one, not to me. This should be a lesson for other countries, it's compassionate. 


default

yek mosht dozd

by catia (not verified) on

Stop with the bleeing heart mentality. They have freed bunch of thieves back to society, instead of keeping them behind bars, where they belong. How pathetic. Behind everyone of their crimes, is someone who has been victimized. I hate them.


default

What humane gesture?

by Abbas agha (not verified) on

They have screwed people, and they have landed in jail. Now the system is f'ed up and some really didn't deserve to be there, but I am sure some are charlatans, with many innocent victims!

Why is it good news every time someone is released from jail?????


Abarmard

Absolutely

by Abarmard on

yet still this is a very nice and humane gesture.


IRANdokht

Thanks for the news Abarmard jan

by IRANdokht on

I wish they had freed the political prisoners too!
Freeing women who are financially in a situation where they can't buy their freedom by posting bail or paying the punitive damages is a good step, but the reality that the women who participated in 1 million signature campaign, journalists, writers, etc... do not deserve to be in prison either.

IRANdokht