Incomplete information almost always lead to handicapped opinion. That is basically the case with Steve Oh's [#1] Outdated, dehumanising practice [/#] (April 6) and Eva Ibrahim's [#2] Let's not cut off anyone's hand [/#] (April 5). God is kind and merciful to us all, and because of His love for us He wants to protect us from any kind of harm.

If it is harsh, it is only harsh to those who really need to be treated that way, otherwise sooner or later a bigger problem will loom. Islamic law has to be evaluated more holistically, rather than only on worldly grounds. It is constructed not only to punish, but to prevent and protect. It protects among other things, our belongings and our hereditary. No one can live happily if they do not feel protected and injustice ran wild all around.

One cannot compare the true outcome of the law with what is happening in Iran and Pakistan because these countries suffer from international sanctions. Afghans suffer from many years of war; it is only fair to give them more time before they can prove anything.

Under Islamic law, a person will only be punished if he is a criminal beyond the shadow of any doubt. This is contrary to the current law where a person is said to be guilty if there is proof beyond reasonable doubt.

There is no cruelty in punishing someone who really ought to be punished. Take a look at the law for adultery. There must be four good witnesses, who really saw the act of "putting a pen into its cover" before the person can have a guilty verdict.

In the case of theft, the judge must make sure that the person has no legitimate reason whatsoever to justify the act. If it is found that he steals because he would otherwise be starve, then he is not punishable the law. And a person must be well-warned before he really can be punished for his crimes.

Due to these kinds of notions, not one hand gets cut off for a good few years after Saudi Arabia implemented the law. There are instances of shops selling gold being left unattended in Saudi. Tell me of other laws, man-made, capable of such self-enforcement.

Lastly, I can understand if such degrading statements came from a non-believer who, after all, will not be affected if Islamic law is enforced. It is somehow surprising, however, for a believer to say that God, who knows it all, is incapable of coming up with the best law for what He made. He knows what is best, for all times, for all.