One of Iran’s official press agencies published photos showing the public amputation of a thief's fingers on Wednesday. These show a man getting his finger chopped off with a machine resembling a rotary saw.

We contacted many of our Observers in Iran to ask them about this machine. Some of them had heard about it before, but many discovered its existence through these morbid photographs, which were reportedly taken on Thursday. According to the INSA press agency, the man shown getting his finger cut off was charged with robbery and adultery by a court in the southwestern city of Shiraz. He was also accused of being at the head of a criminal organization.

On top of losing one of his fingers, he was sentenced to three years in prison and 99 whip lashes.

No independent witnesses were able to recount the circumstances under which this amputation took place. Four photos of the scene published by the press agency were widely relayed on social media networks.

Strangely enough, the man’s face did not betray any signs of suffering in the photos, though it is possible that he might have been drugged.

"Publishing these photos is a way to instil fear in the population so as to avoid any protests"

Contacted by FRANCE 24, the spokesperson for Iran Human Rights , Mahmoud Amiry-Moghaddam, who is based in Norway, explains: “What is surprising about this is that not only was this a public amputation, but that photos of it were distributed by official press agencies, and that they showed a machine that we had until yet never seen images of.

We have noticed that the authorities have recently being making more and more publicity surrounding cases of corporal punishment. Every time we get closer to an election, the number of these incidents increases. And we’re getting quite close to the presidential election [slated for June]. I believe this is a strategy to instill fear in the population so as to avoid any protests.

Following the amputation, Ali Alghasi, Shiraz’s public prosecutor, announced that sentences against criminals would become increasingly severe, without explaining why.

On January 20, two thieves were hanged in public in Tehran . They had been caught thanks to video filmed by a street surveillance camera that showed them robbing a man at knife point. They had stolen the equivalent of 20 euros.

Amputation, whipping, and even death by stoning are all legal forms of punishment under Iran’s Islamic penal code.

http://observers.france24.com/content/20130125-iran-machine-amputating-thieves-finger

It is their nation, their machines and their fingers. If any Nigerian is caught stealing in Iran, let the law of the land deal with him or her.
I believe in a system that discovers what works for them instead of copying laws from other races to guide them.

This machine will develop 'wings' in no time if introduced into the Nigerian system...

While other nations are busy advancing in technology, this sules have choose to be inventing more barbaric machines. What ever happens to sending a criminal to jail for a jail term. Why cut their hands for God sake

That machine reminds me of the Movie S.A.W