Homer Pavlos@HomerPavlos
The most common torture inflicted by the Muslims during the Ottoman period was whipping. The usual victims were the Christians. It was the introductory torment in every other torture, so common in the persecutions of Christians that the phrase became proverbial: "I will whip you until you change your faith."
The victim was tied with exposed back, their clothes torn, and the whipping began. The executioners were usually Turkish soldiers with robust physiques, so that the blows were both critical and powerful. The number of blows was either predetermined by the court or (most of the time) left to the discretion of the executioners. Muslim judges (qadis) observed the torture. If the victim showed that they could not endure the completion of the number of blows and their life was in immediate danger, then the judge placed the Quran under the executioner's armpit. Unable to raise his arm high (since the holy text must not fall to the ground), he delivered the remaining blows with less intensity. After the whipping, the victim was often left helpless without care, or thrown into prison. In most cases, permanent disabilities remained on the body.
Also, one of the harshest tortures of the Ottoman Muslims was impalement. Crowds surrounded the victim and mocked them, suggesting they convert to Islam and insulting their faith, family, and nationality.
The stakes were set up in a specific area, usually in the village or town square. The victim was dragged there in public humiliation, as usual. After being severely whipped, their clothes were torn, their hands were tied tightly behind their back, and they were "seated" on the stake. Then weights were hung on their legs so that they would slide down and be skewered on the stake. In many cases, the sadism did not end with skewering the victim. The spit (with the victim on it) was placed horizontally over a fire or burning coals, and the victim was roasted alive like a lamb. The fearsome and terrible Ali Pasha of Ioannina was famous for slowly roasting his victims, thinning the coals under them to prolong the agony and the entertainment of himself and his entourage. In many cases, he forced relatives to torture and kill their own kin to avoid impalement and roasting themselves. I have an interesting story to tell you on my next post. Stay tuned.
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