http://dailytimes.com.ng/blog/finding-punishment-acid-baths

Finding a punishment for acid baths
blog | September 23, 2011 - 2:39am | By Jess Nwanne

Jealousy is a strong feeling that can drive people to doing unthinkable things if not curtailed. Most of us act on our anger and jealousy such that it mars another person’s life.

Few weeks ago, a story hit the Internet about a woman in her thirties whose lover disfigured with an acid bath. The woman allegedly discovered that her lover had lied about his marital status. While he said he was single, she found out he was married and with kids too. She ended the relationship due to this discovery.

The lover chased after her begging not to be discarded. He selfishly wanted to keep both women. After series of telling off to no avail, the woman moved away from the area she was living. This love-crazed man stalked her to her new abode and visited her one morning armed with acid.

This is just one out of more than a thousand cases of women disfigured by their lovers or jealous girlfriends. Women have really been at the receiving end of this unfair treatment.

One then wonders what the ideal punishment for such a crime should be. If a human being can knowingly change a once beautiful woman to a near-monster, is a jail term enough punishment? Some men even get away with such despicable acts.

Let me take you back to a story that was aired a few months ago. This story was about a Tehran lady, Bahrami Ameneh, who was disfigured and blinded in both eyes by Majid Movahedi, a man who wanted to marry her at all cost.

The 24-year-old Electronics graduate refused his proposal and thus aroused the jealousy and animal instinct in him. He stalked and finally doused her with acid. If he couldn’t have her, then he would make her so ugly that no one else could.

After the case was decided in court, Bahrami got 19,000 pounds in compensation and Majid went to jail.

But then, Bahrami rejected the money. She wanted an eye-for-an eye verdict. With a powerful lawyer behind her, she got her wish. She was permitted to inject twenty drops of acid into each of Majid’s eyes.

She said it’ll make her feel better if he suffered the same fate she is suffering. How true is that? Will revenge wipe her pains and make her whole again? Will she really feel better after exerting revenge?

Many believe her decision was good as it would deter people who loved bathing others with acid from such actions. If they knew the victim would take their own pound of flesh, they would back off. Others were of the opinion that her decision was both ruthless and harsh. They think she should leave vengeance to God.

If per chance, this eye-for-an- eye law were enacted here in Nigeria, do you think it will curb acid bathing and any crime whatsoever or do you feel it will only increase drastically wickedness and vengeance in humans?

i am fully in support. any animal who thinks he can scar a person for life, impact on the persons future, love life, marriage, job etal usually because of pettiness deserves to have his action meted out to him

long after the public outrage is past, the victim will continue to suffer.