Podcast, Episode Three

Deuteronomy chapter 22, verses 28-29, in the King James translation and the Catholic versions of the Bible. Depending on the translation you have, it is ambiguous whether the rule applies to consensual premarital sex, but it is clear that it demands an unmarried rape victim to marry her rapist.

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Contrary to attempts to explain this away, it is clear that this rule was enforced on rape victims. As late as 1611, Artemisia Gentileschi, a notable Italian painter was tortured during the trial of her rapist, to supposedly test the veracity of testimony. The rapist, Agostino Tassi, was not tried for rape, but for breaching his promise to her father to marry her. He was not tortured during the trial, (despite clear evidence of perjury) and, though convicted of failing to marry her as agreed, he was never punished.

This law, a part of all Abrahamic religions, is still in force in Jordan where girls as young as 14 years have been forced to marry their rapists in recent years.

John Mallon spoke on behalf of Forest Eireann.

An internal tobacco-industry document where they discuss the importance of packaging to attract children to smoking is here.
The 12.8 per cent reduction in cigarette consumption in Australia in the two years since the introduction of plain packaging is noted here.
The fact that the large majority of smokers start smoking while children is noted here.
The direct involvement of tobacco companies in tobacco smuggling is noted here and here.
The creation, funding, control and scripting of the message of ‘Smokers’ Rights Groups’, (including Forest) by tobacco companies is detailed here.