Stoning facts for kids
Stoning or lapidation is a very old and harsh way of carrying out the death penalty. This means a group of people throws stones at a person who has been found guilty of a crime, until that person dies. Today, this practice is mostly found in countries that follow Sharia law. Sharia law is a set of religious laws that are part of the Islamic tradition.
Contents
Stoning: What It Is
Stoning is a method of punishment where a group of people throw stones at someone until they die. It is one of the oldest forms of the death penalty, which is the most severe punishment a government can give for a crime.
Stoning in History
Stoning has been used as a punishment for a very long time in many different parts of the world. It is mentioned in ancient texts and historical records from various cultures and religions. In ancient times, it was sometimes seen as a way for the whole community to take part in carrying out justice.
For example, in some ancient stories, stoning was used for serious crimes. The idea was that the community was so upset by the crime that everyone should be involved in the punishment.
Where Stoning Happens Today
While stoning is very rare around the world now, it is still used in some places. It is mainly practiced in countries where the legal system is based on Sharia law. Sharia law is a system of religious laws that guides many aspects of life for Muslims.
Many international organizations and most countries around the world do not agree with stoning. They see it as a cruel and unusual punishment.
Images for kids
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Saint Stephen, the first Christian martyr, painted in 1506 by Marx Reichlich. This painting is in the Pinakothek of Munich.
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Jesus and the woman taken in adultery by Julius Schnorr von Karolsfeld, 1860. In this story, Jesus said that the person who was without sin should throw the first stone.
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The Sabbath-breaker Stoned. This artwork shows a story from the Book of Numbers (chapter 15). By James Tissot, around 1900.
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The Punishment of Korah and the Stoning of Moses and Aaron (1480–1482), by Sandro Botticelli, found in the Sistine Chapel, Rome.
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The Stoning of a Woman, an illustration from a manuscript of 1001 Nights by Abu'l Hasan Ghaffari or his workshop. Made in Tehran, 1853–1857.
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The stoning of Saint Stephen (1863) by Gabriel-Jules Thomas.
See also
In Spanish: Lapidación para niños
