His face covered by a balaclava, an official brandishing a cane repeatedly lashes the back of a man found guilty of breaking Iran's morality laws.If you've seen "The Passion of the christ", think of that part where they first start to whip Jesus with the switches, and the Roman guard is counting off. That's what the guy's back looks like.
Two police officers hold the legs of 25-year-old Saeed Ghanbari and another his arms to ensure there is no escape from the punishment of 80 lashes handed down by a religious court.
Traffic was brought to a halt in Qazvin, 90 miles west of the capital Tehran, as more than 1,000 men gathered behind barricades to watch the public flogging...
...One police officer held his hands together beneath the bench, two others gripped his legs to ensure there was little movement.
Two police officers stood-by, their faces covered with balaclavas - each to administer 40 lashes.
Both men then lashed Ghanbari, taking the cane back behind their heads to guarantee maximum impact, each stroke leaving a distinctive red mark and bruising on his back.
Several wounds began to bleed.
It was unclear exactly what his offence had been as the country's strict morality laws cover many areas, but it was reported he had been convicted of abusing alcohol and having sex outside of marriage.
I hate to sound like a broken record, but for all you who think that it's Christianity that lives in the Dark Ages and is responsible for subjigating and repressing women, take a look at your future under Islamofascism.
