"Dictatorships do cut down on rape, and pillage, not to mention sexual harassment, by the simple expedient of sending people to labour camps for life or cutting off their hands without a trial"

This quote by Barbara Amiel is a commentary on the extreme measures taken by dictatorships to preserve control. Amiel is recommending that dictatorships have the ability to reduce crime, such as rape, pillage, and unwanted sexual advances, by utilizing harsh penalties such as sending individuals to labour camps for life or cutting off their hands without a trial. This quote implies that dictatorships want to sacrifice justice and human rights in order to keep order and control. Amiel is suggesting that while these procedures may be effective in lowering crime, they are not necessarily simply or ethical. This quote works as a suggestion of the power of dictatorships and the lengths they want to go to in order to keep control.