An Act Unworthy of God's Forgiveness

Directed toward an abhorrent practice of the uncivilized among us, I write to express my shock and disgust. The latest case of an acid attack, upon a 21-year old woman named Kamilat Mehdi, arose in Ethopia; please read below:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6498641.stm


Horrific and unconscionable, acid attacks, while generally on the decline, do occur in many parts of the developing and least developed worlds. Particularly in Bangladesh, strict laws have been passed, imposing the penalty of death if an acid attack results in a fatality. The government has also provided for stringent regulation of acid sales. There were 204 known victims in 2006, down from 270 in 2005 and 325 in 2004. Nevertheless, prosecution is hardly the norm, and implementation is ineffective.

It will take much more than passing laws to eliminate this form of violence. Thankfully, organizations, rallies, community outreach centers, and many men have begun to mobilize against this practice.

For the young Kamilat however, a life she dreamt has been tragically and needlessly destroyed. Go back to the link. Look at the disfiguration. The death penalty against the perpetrator seems pathetically lenient.