NationStates Jolt Archive

Today in Solaria, the capital city of Rubainia, a 15 year old peasant boy was arrested for theft. The incident began when the culprit was sighted near a gem vendor in the city's bazar. The boy took a gem that had recently been sold to the Holy Temple. Police were sent to retrieve the theif, and take off his hand on the spot for theft and breaking of the ancient laws.

The theif-whose name has not yet been released-than threw himself upon a Priest for mercy. Luckly the police arrived in time, before one of such a lowly caste could defile a holy member of the Priests Caste.

Not two hours later sentance was given by the city Justicar. The boy is to be given twenty-nine strokes of the rotan, for breach of class and theft of temple property, as well as life imprisonment. While the usual sentence is death, because of he is a minor, the Temple Guardian of the Peasant Caste has allowed him some small mercy.

The sentance has yet to be carried out.

Though it is not my place to interfere in the actions of sovereign nations, I must ask a question. What is the purpose of priests, if not to aid the people? Should not anyone be allowed to seek mercy from the clergy?

Sanctuary of the Church is a sacred right, gifted from God to all mankind in His Eternal Wisdom. Malkyer's spokesperson speaks the truth; all should be allowed to seek mercy.

We are mildly pleased that the Justicar choose to show mercy at the behest of the Temple Guardian. (on a side note, certain of our clergy have expressed interest in the structure of your religious hierarchy; is a Temple Guardian the equivalent of a bishop?)

That said, we view your punishment as disproportionate and, bluntly, just shy of barbaric. If this is "mercy" in your country, then we shudder to think what a "harsh sentence" would be.

- Ministry of External Affairs.

OOC: Seriously, I'm curious. It looks like you've given it serious thought.

*T.U.B.A (The Turkimen United Broadcasters Association) runs a small clip (about 20 minutes, small compared to domestic issues such as the minimal defense budget Frederian is running off of) about this crisis during peak hours.*

Reporter: In other news, the large country of Rubainia commited a rather inhuman and inhumane crime today to a small child, cutting off his hand due to theft, as is according to the crime in those sorts of barbaric and backwards countries. The child was apparently caught stealing a gem of some sort that was going to be used inside of the temple. While Rubainia uses a caste system similar to that of a Feudal society, I assure you that this crime wouldn't be second guessed here in Turkimen. Anyway, before I become too personal, His Majesty Frederian IV came out today against this heinous crime in a public speech.


*a clip of Frederian IV climbing up to a podium and placing down a sheet of paper, his robes rather extravagent, but still less rich then most monarchs.*

Frederian: People of Turkimen it has come to my attention that a travesty has happened inside the Nation of Rubainia today. A fifteen year old theif of a child hand was severed for his crime of stealing a gem. While I standfast next to the laws that hold a society together, I cannot bear to do anything but denounce and dehumanize this sort of barbaric behavior from a member of the United Nations. Therefore, I am proposing in front of my peers of the world, and the parliament, to enact sanctions disabling our private enterprises and our populace from supporting this countries economy in anyway. I hope that this will be the last of it, and I consider it a stern warning for Rubainia to disengage in such punishment in further days. Again, I hope my peers agree, and may the Almighty bless.

*Frederian steps down*

Official Imperial Statement

Damn kid would have just covered the priest in filth anyway. Damn peasants.

*a clip of Frederian IV climbing up to a podium and placing down a sheet of paper, his robes rather extravagent, but still less rich then most monarchs.*

OOC: Dude, robes are so eighteenth century.

We'd excecute the theif, but thats just us.

-Shah Khosru III

sooo....you beat up a theif? not want to be an ass, but, is this going anywhere?

Our temple heirarchy is quite complex. You see, our society is strictly organized into castes, and for one who is unpurified to enter the presence of one of the Priests Caste is strictly forbiddon (all temple servants are cleansed upon taking up service). In Rubainia we worship the holy "Unrevealed Goddess" who is known by many names and faces.

At the top we have the Arch Priest(ess) and his/her four advisor High Priests/Priestesses. The Guardians are appointed to oversee each caste as the highest form of appeal that caste can make (they can also interfere with the national justice system, and are the only priests with direct influence in national government; key word: "direct"). There are also the Sun Virgins who serve the Unrevealed Lady for a time as her select children, during which they must remain a virgin to say the least. And of course there is a base of priests (ranked by three degrees of initiation), senior priests, scribes, acolytes, and novices.

As I have said before, the sentance would not have been so harsh had the boy gone to the Temple proper and sought sanctuary. He would have been purified and allowed to stay. Instead, the theif in question all but defiled one who serves. That, with his thevery, had to be punished.

sooo....you beat up a theif? not want to be an ass, but, is this going anywhere?

((OOC: You're not helping to make it go anywhere. Leave the thread and stop being an asshole.))

According to the Holy Qur'an, the penalty for theft is having your arm removed. This is probably all that the boy should have done to him. Unless of course the temple he stole from was a Muslim organization. In that case you are justified in killing the boy.

While Rubainia uses a caste system similar to that of a Feudal society, I assure you that this crime wouldn't be second guessed here in Turkimen.

I can assure you that our caste system is NOTHING like a feudal society. The very idea of serfdom would be treated with horror here. As for the so called "child". In Rubainia, traditional age of majority is fifteen! Our nation is quite civilized, however violating ancient traditions held dear to us is something of a travesty in itself. It is only then that our justice system steps in. People should be able to live their lives how they like, as long as they don't betray their native culture in some way.

Btw, the boy's hand wasn't removed! He was canned instead. I don't see why this is such an issue anyway. Canning is much more humane than execution! Here in Rubainia, we only take of hands for theivery. Most other crimes only carry a fine or at most exile. Canning is also common enough, though not as. The death penalty is almost never put into practice here, life is sacred!

((OOC: You're not helping to make it go anywhere. Leave the thread and stop being an asshole.))


Listen, I just thought he might have a deeper story planned and this was just leading up to something. I just wanted to know. Maybe I didn't word it well, but there's no need to blow a fuse. Really.)

-= a message goes out from Slinao from the Supreme Diety =-

We ourselves once held laws that were too harsh for our populace, and have since renounced them. Never has our people been stronger or more united since the ending of such strict laws and rules. This life that you wish to lock away, and hide it from the rest of the world, is still full of promise and spirit. The nation of Slinao will not interfere with the punishment, though we do ask that the child be turned over to us. We shall prevent him from ever contacting your nation or your people again, so the punishment of seperation would still be fulfilled.

We would like to take custody of the child before any punishment is put forth though, and frown deeply upon the thought that any temple that is set to keep the world pure would ever consider such barbaric punishments set upon those so young.

-= message ends =-

The Temple has no control over national law. The ancient laws are interpreted by the government and punishments are assigned for crimes there. The Guardian acted to grant as much mercy as possible. We don't want to be a theocracy! After the sentance has been enacted and the youth canned, we will allow him to be banished forever for the defilment of one so sacred.

Btw, the boy's hand wasn't removed! He was canned instead. I don't see why this is such an issue anyway. Canning is much more humane than execution! Here in Rubainia, we only take of hands for theivery. Most other crimes only carry a fine or at most exile. Canning is also common enough, though not as. The death penalty is almost never put into practice here, life is sacred!

Who told you that a theif does not deserve to die because his life is "sacred"? Excecute him!

-Shah Khosru III

The Puppetmaster of LaMorai feels that you did not give out a harsh enough punishment. Give the lad to us. We shall put him through the "Living Death" torture. When he survives, we shall wipe his mind and turn him into a freak. The everyone can come throw rocks at him and he will have no idea why.

29 strokes of the rotan is harsh! He won't be able to walk for months, maybe years! Besides permenant scarring will be left and disfigurment. This is why canning is one of the harshest punishments under Rubainian law. We want to uphold some shreds of humanity. However, this is just in our nation. By all means continue what you are doing in your own.

The Puppetmaster of LaMorai feels that you did not give out a harsh enough punishment. Give the lad to us. We shall put him through the "Living Death" torture. When he survives, we shall wipe his mind and turn him into a freak. The everyone can come throw rocks at him and he will have no idea why.

-= the supreme diety of Slinao looks at the message and laughs =-

Perhaps it is you that needs to have their minds wiped and rocks hurled at you? Our nation feels you have not been dealt with harsh enough, though our laws forbid us from doing you any harm until you harm us first. Though personally I wish we could over look the law this time.

We still stand with our offer to take the child into our arms for the banishment. Any nations interested in how we will treat this child is free to contact us on the matter. We hope Rubainia takes us up on our offer. We will be willing to pay for the cost of his transportation to our nation, as well as the return trip for your carriers.

T.U.B.A Reporter: And in other news, the continued international response to the torture that a 15 year old child commited of theft has gone through has been quite varied. Some even more barbaric nations have actually supported further violent actions. Appalled by this, Frederian again has come to the podium to tell of what Frederian plans to do.

Frederian IV: Hello again my fellow countrymen, and leaders of nations across the multiverse. I come again in front of the podium to again address the issue of the child whom apparently was in some way harmed maliciously wwithout trial by the country of Rubainia. I shudder to think of what this child must be going through, but I have thought it over. Already, sanctions are in place by my country, as was passed by our nations parliament soon after my last speech. However I don't believe we've done enough. I do hope that things will improve in Rubainia, and also wish to propose something to the leaders of Rubainia. We will take in the child that you've cast out yourself if you let us. I assure you our country has little to no crime at all, due to its rehabilitation clinics and high standards of living. We will rehabilitate him, take him off your hands, and release him into our society to work as a productive citizen instead of stealing valuables and bobbles off of street corners. I do hope that Rubainia improves its position in these tragic affairs, and may the almighty bless.