The pictures added in the question Is the self-flagellation bidah? are disturbing and graphic (and have for now been removed from the actual post; they are clearly visible in the revision history)
Should we allow such pictures?
And what should be done about it since the author seems adamant on keeping it?
Should we allow such pictures?
I believe not, graphic and disturbing images should not be allowed on this site for the most part.
And what should be done about it since the author seems adamant on keeping it?
We already know what such a Bid'ah looks like and what the people of ignorance do, and if someone truly wants to see what happens they can search sites like google images. So I think we should edit them out of the question, and if the user is adamant then we should refer him to here, but if he is still adamant then we should lock the post.
As a general rule of thumb, images should be used when they provide a significant advantage over text for the post.
I'm not seeing that in this case. Both images could easily be collapsed into a single phrase "…punish themselves, often to the point of drawing blood." with no loss of relevant information.
As I see it, the only "advantage" to using images in this case is for shock value, to show how "bad" such actions really are. This is a tactic often used by polemic sites and forum arguments, and as such I feel that it really has no place on here; it makes us look unprofessional and is more likely to drive away actual experts and instigate sectarian squabbling than it is to achieve anything useful.
As for what should be done when the author is adamant on keeping a (potentially) problematic image? Flag the post for moderator attention (we can lock such posts to prevent edit wars) and bring it up to meta for discussion. Once a reasonable resolution is reached in meta, flag a moderator to unlock the post (if the lock hasn't degraded naturally) so the post can be edited accordingly.
I think it is Ok to post these pictures for these reasons:
1- As Al Ummat said, this website is for adults.
2- He/she didn't post a picture directly. But a link to that picture.
3- We are not allowed to edit a post without the agreement of the questioner as Bleeding fingers told me once.
However I suggest putting +18 tag or any other warning after the images which warn people that these pictures are disturbing. Many websites do this and it is up to the viewer to see these or don't.
I didn't know OP has posted pictures which was removed later. Of course posting pictures like these directly is bad. Howver, linking them is Ok
Another problem of that pictures were that they were not proved to be about Shia people. There are different groups that do similar actions. for example some groups of Christians do such action in some rituals about Jesus a.s. and usually those pictures are used for propaganda against Shia Islam.
