Entry #2 - January 28, 2013

Police played ‘wheel of torture’ game to punish Philippines criminal suspects

By Jim Gomez

          In the distant lands of the Manila, Philippines it has been discovered that a group of Philippine police offers had created, and were playing, an almost "Wheel of Fortune Game Show" type game in order to determine the punishment for their prisoners. The game includes many shocking sections such as a section called the "Manny Pacquiao", a boxing star, in which the prisoner/detainee is punched repeatedly for twenty straight seconds. The prisoners/detainees, generally populated by drug traffickers, were also forced to endure such punishments as the "30 second bat" where the prisoner was hung upside down for thirty seconds, and others such as the "3 minute zombie", and the "30 second duck walk". The last two tortures listed have not yet been determined as to what the prisoner actually had to do, but more info on the case is being gathered day to day.

I think that this a terrible, and completely unjust way of dealing with prisoners, and that it is also a huge violation  of human rights. I am aware that these prisoners have, for the most part, committed quite heinous crimes, but there is a right way, and a wrong way to deal with these people, and that was not it.  The punishment should not have been carried out as if it was some sort of game/joke to the police officers. It should be taken as a very serious matter, and it should be carried out professionally, no matter who it is that they're punishing. It is sick that these police officers actually got joy, and even fun, out of doing a job that many would barely have the stomach for when done the proper, professional way! I feel that these police officers should be relieved of their duties immediately, and that they should be forced to take some sort of counselling to find out why they are able to enjoy such a thing. A person who is so desensitized to the violence, pain, and torture of someone else, is a very dangerous person, as there is no telling what they will do, and how far they will go, and it doesn't seem these police officers have any limits whatsoever.

Entry #1 - January 24, 2013

Mentally Ill Man Sentenced to Death for Blasphemy

By The Associated Press

             A mentally ill man from Britain, by the name of Mohammed Asgar, has been sentenced to death today in Pakistan due to his conviction of blasphemy. He was arrested in 2010 in Pakistan for claiming to be the one and only Prophet Muhhamad, a sacred figure of the Muslim culture believed to be the last prophet sent by God for mankind. After his arrest, Asgar was treated for paranoid schizophrenia, and it was determined he did indeed have this mental illness. Asgar's lawyers are extremely worried about his mental state, especially being trapped inside a prison, and find it extremely unfair to sentence a man to death simply for claiming he is someone he's not, due to his mental illness. They have, and will continue to fight aggressively against the court for Asgar’s release, and for them to drop all charges on grounds of mental health.

         I side with the lawyers on this one, as I feel it is incredibly unfair, and unjustly harsh that this poor man has been sentenced to death for saying things that he can't control, nor help. Schizophrenia is a very serious mental illness, and due to his illness most things Asgar said should be taken with a grain of salt. I don't believe he was trying to disrespect, deceive, or harm anyone, and I feel that there is no reason to send him to prison, or sentence him to death. The only valid solution I see is for Asgar to be put in a mental institution where he can receive the help and security he deserves. Where his opinions, thoughts, views, and outbursts will not cause anyone harm, and will keep him out of trouble with the law.