Farhood Azarsina, the 25-year-old Iranian native who admitted to kissing a woman’s breast on a Memorial University elevator, will be sentenced Thursday.

Azarsina, a PhD student in engineering, pleaded guilty today in provincial court to one count of sexual assault.

http://www.thetelegram.com/photos/Telegram/stories/farhood.jpg

During the sentencing hearing, he admitted to kissing the top of the woman’s breast while the two were on an elevator in MUN’s University Centre on Sept. 27, 2007.

He apologized on the stand, explaining he acted on impulse.
“For sure, it was a terrible thing to do,” Azarsina said under cross-examination by Crown prosecutor Sheldon Steeves.

“Back home (in Iran), if you do this, they slap you. And if the woman calls the police, the police slap you.” (and then punish the woman ?)

Azarsina said he didn’t realize the seriousness of the offence until afterwards.

“I didn’t know it was this bad,” said Azarsina, who has been banned from
the university campus since the incident.

“Now I understand (it’s a criminal offence). I know I’m not allowed to touch (anyone). … It was just a mistake.”

Azarsina was arrested shortly after the assault and taken to Royal Newfoundland Constabulary headquarters for questioning by an RNC officer.

Videotape of that session was played in court.

In it, Azarsina attempts to explain how he could commit such an offence. He said the woman was wearing a blouse, with cleavage showing.
“I would just say it’s tempting,” he said. “It happens everywhere. Usually, I’m so good … I can control it. I do most of the time.”

....

Azarsina’s lawyer, Brian Wentzel, said his client has also suffered. Azarsina says he was verbally and physically harassed during the three weeks he spent at Her Majesty’s Penitentiary.

“(The other prisoners) called me ‘camel-back rider’ and ‘Osama bin Laden,’” said Azarsina, who claims he was assaulted twice.

“At night, it was bad.”

...

http://www.thetelegram.com/index.cfm?sid=100266&sc=79


He said he suffered too because while sitting in jail the other inmates laughed and called him names - Camel-Back Rider... It may just be the other way around during the next couple of weeks

The appalling scandal of our prison system is that the expectation of homosexual rape is not only tolerated but used in calculating severity of punishment: "Young man, if you don't plead guilty you will go to prison...and you KNOW what happens THERE..."

No, I don't think the kid deserved to be raped for his nasty act.

"Usually, I’m so good … I can control it."


:hyper: :hyper:

That's just ... so original... ,usually.

The appalling scandal of our prison system is that the expectation of homosexual rape is not only tolerated but used in calculating severity of punishment: "Young man, if you don't plead guilty you will go to prison...and you KNOW what happens THERE..."

No, I don't think the kid deserved to be raped for his nasty act.

However,

I take it that you DO NOT approve of strange men randomly kissing womens breasts in elevators ?

Not strange ones, no.

And it's not our custom:

"The lift's a fine and private place,
But none I think do there embrace."

Even if the woman was wearing a bikini top he had no right to touch her. Who the hell does he think he is?

In regards to being in prison, he should be segregated away from the other prisoners. Being in prison for this is bad enough of course but for sure he should have just left that woman be.

Even if the woman was wearing a bikini top he had no right to touch her. Who the hell does he think he is?

In regards to being in prison, he should be segregated away from the other prisoners. Being in prison for this is bad enough of course but for sure he should have just left that woman be.

I think the proper response is a hell of a good smack in the face.

Or maybe a warning and a fine for a first offense.

But jail with homosexual rape is not the proper response.

I remember a story from the first Gulf War. There was an American female soldier in a mall in Riyadh, dressed in a standard uniform with pants.

A muttawa (religious policeman) came up behind her with a stick and gave her a hefty whack because he didn't like the way she was dressed. She turned around and told him to cut it out. He whacked her again.

She decked him.

I'm not sure where you've picking this stuff up about homosexual rape.

None has happened.

Thats just the wimp crying because he got punished for being unable to control himself.

If the woman had decked him, she would probably get prosecuted for assault.

Wudjab, homosexual rape is as common in men's (and women's!) prisons as a glass of milk. If you are locked up in a common cell, you will almost certainly be raped.

It's one of the huge scandals of life in the West today and it has nothing to do with Islam. Several of the most conservative Catholic Senators--like Brownback and Santorum--have made this the point of serious legislation.

Now, no, I can't PROVE that "said Azarsina, who claims he was assaulted twice" means that he was raped. But given the conditions in prisons and the way code words are used for such occurrences, anyone who follows the issue would have a moral certainty in the matter.

I remember the famous pro-lifer Joan Andrews who, after a peaceful protest at an abortion clinic, was arrested and put into prison for a night with one cellmate, specially chosen by the day guards. She barely avoided being raped by appealing to the night guard who was a decent sort.

Prison should be for taking people's freedom. But it is horribly abused.

I agree with Sir Jeffrey on his position.

He can't plead ignorance in such a situation. While I don't condone or promote prison rape (of which there is no evidence of), he should reap the penalties and consequences of the law accordingly.