Regarding your SIDELINES (May 14), I would like to offer my thoughts.

The fourth surah of the Al-Qur'an, states that to engage in illicit sex is forbidden. Because of that, there are severe punishments, so that Islamic people will not engage in it and a certain punishment is deemed suitable for the sinner. Abdul Rohim asked for penance because of his beliefs. If he wanted to he could have avoided being stoned to death by withdrawing his confessio