The laws are perfect, Adultery is a big crime in Islam, for some non-muslims adultery is part of life so they feel angry about such punishments. But in Muslim Society Adultery is to be punished and the punishment is set as an exmaple for others not to indulge in such crime.

You call it Barbaric but its a predefined punishment, if u commit adultery and its proved then u are stoned, period. If u don't want that punishment stay away from it.

In this case, the people who gave the punishment were not authorized to do so, hence its wrong. The women confessed (if she did) then she is brave, she knows the reward of the hereafter life(which most people replying here don't believe, for them this life is everything) but if she did not confess and there were not 4 witnesses to prove the case then the group committed a murder for which they should be held guilty according to Shariah law.

Islamic Laws can protect the world, its the fear factor which keeps people on track. If there were no fear of fines, people will seldomly obey traffic signals, if there were no fear of police action, robbery would be a common practice, if there is no fear of punishment from parents, kids would be spoiled and a black spot to society.

A Father is always cruel to be kind, similarly Laws of Almighty appear tough but ONLY for the perpetrators of the laws.