In the backdrop of the hanging of Mumbai terror attack accused Ajmal Kasab and Parliament attack case convict Afzal Guru, the Human Rights Watch (HRW), an international human rights organisation, has urged the Manmohan Singh government to “end this distressing use of executions as a way to satisfy some public opinion.”
Instead “India should join the nations that have chosen to abolish capital punishment.”
HRW South-Asia Director Meenakshi Ganguly said in a statement that Guru’s hanging “makes it more urgent for India to reinstate its previous informal moratorium on executions as a step towards abolishing the death penalty.”
“No one argues that those who engage in serious crimes should not be punished. But the death penalty is brutal and irreversible, and there is no convincing evidence to suggest it serves as a deterrent.”
HRW was opposed to death penalty in all circumstances as an inherently irreversible, inhuman punishment.
In July 2012, fourteen retired Supreme Court and High Court judges asked the President to commute the death sentences of 13 inmates as they were erroneously upheld by the Supreme Court over the past nine years. This followed the court’s admission that some of these death sentences were rendered per incuriam (out of error or ignorance).
In another statement, a group of human rights activists said they “condemn strongly and unequivocally, both the unjust, shameful and unconscionable hanging of Afzal Guru as well as the unlawful detention of [Hurriyat leader] S.A.R. Geelani and harassment of his family.”
The activists, who signed the joint statement, include B.D. Sharma, Sumit Chakravarty, Subrat Kumar Sahu, Shyamla Mustafa Muhammad, Nandita Narain, Karen Gabriel, and P.K. Vijayan.
Keywords: Afzal Guru hanging, human rights, 2001 Parliament attack
In a country like India which is in a region like South Asia where
there is absolutely no fear of any kind of punishment, where it is a
given that one can getaway with anything by playing politics, religion
and what not - absolutely the highest form of punishment can be the
only effective deterrent. And nothing matches the fear of death. No
point comparing ourselves with other nations which have or are
considering abolishing the death penalty. Especially in a over
crowded,"free for all" nation like ours - only the death penalty can
send out a loud and clear message. Cutting through all noise and chaos.
For instance - the recent Delhi rapists - do they deserve anything else
or less. Don't we need to instill the fear of life into anybody else
even contemplating something like that...
True we have no right to take life.But accused had murdered many
irrespective of women, children with terror in mind,there is no other
option to give capital punishment to create atleast fear in minds of
terrorists.life time terms are eyewash,AS each occasion like Gandhi
jayanthi etc, some will be released. Then what is the use,
Where was the human right activists when these crimaminals killed thousands of innocent people. The human right activist are always there for justifying rapist and criminals and never utter a word when thousands of innocent people die
Hanging is a deterrent that works 100% of the time among those who are
hanged.
India is a country where in the decade goneby lakhs of debt ridden farmers have committed suicide (self imposed capital punishment), half of whose kids are suffering from malnutrition, more than a lakh people die every year in road accidents. In contrast, there has only 3 executions since 1993. Are we people missing the woods for trees here?
It is perfectly logical, consistent, and appropriate to carry out the
death penalty after the taking of life of another or other
individuals. In fact, failure to do so only rewards the criminals and
plays into the hands of the criminals who are calling for the
abolishing of the death penalty. These people have little thought
through crime and punishment. It's the failure to carry out the death
penalty, when completely investigated, that emboldens the hearts of
the wicked. After all, if I can kill my enemy and be let out of jail
after a while, have I not accomplished my purpose? People, do not let
these human rights advocates mess up our society. Just look at the
evil they have already done across the planet! Somehow they are unable
to separate actions and consequences, and rather have the wicked alive
than the good! that's how it comes across to most clear thinking
people. The death penalty does in fact deter some from such heinous
acts as murder.
How can one say, any punishment is just for someone like Ajmal Kasab who cold heartedly murdered innocents ? It need not be to satisfy "some public opinion" but the punishment is to provide justice to the thousands who grieve the loss of their dear ones and millions who are fed up with such devilish acts. A good trial and punishment is the minimum what we can give to provide justice to the police officers and soldiers who gave up their life to protect the citizens on India.
Death penalty has to be given to the rarest of the rare cases especially
if the case is brutal and if the accused is proved of his
charges.Providing the death penalty will prevent others from doing the
same mistake.If it doesn't happen then everyone can make a mistake and
can escape from the punishment which happens here always.
Liberals think that by abdicating capital punishment as a tool for law enforecement is noble and somehow makes them more civilized. That is a misonception. Punishment and proof of guilt are two different matters. We need to assume the guilt is proved. Then the question is that whether the capital punishment is warranted. In my opinion there are crimes that such punishment is not only warranted but desirable. Sometimes it may be the kindest thing to do taking the victims of the crime, the perpetrator of the crime and the overall well being of the society in to consideration. Basic human rights are forefeited when one engages in crime.
Punishments may not deter crime totally but that does not mean it should
be abolished and make bold more would be criminals
The mercy petition should have been considered in the light of 1. Supreme Court's observation on the confessional statement. 2. Afzal Guru did not directly involve in the attack. 3. The role of defence lawyer in the trial court. 4. He was in jail for a long time.
If the judicial system ultimately finds a person guilty of a heinous crime and.awards
capital punishment to the person as per the law of the country, one cannot quarrel with
the award. But one should criticize the song and dance over this put up by the media
and some political leaders. Killing, even legally sanctioned killing, of a human being is
not something to be celebrated in a civilized society.
It is unexceptionable that death sentence should be thought of only for most heinous crimes.Unless the guilt is proved beyond doubt, the accused should not be visited with capital punishment. Any punishment may not be a proven deterrent. This does not mean that punishments need to be abolished.
Mahatma Gandhi said "An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind". India has changed a lot from that vision. India does not have compassion towards humanity looks like. If Afzal Guru is cheap India has now become cheaper
Execution was one of the strategy to ensure vote bank for 2014 election.
why dont they give these teachings to countries like saudi
arabia,Iran,China .India is facing acts of terrorism almost every month
and they are expected to behave like angels whereas countries which are
born to despise against India are not even giving any trial opportunity
and this is what i call pot calling kettle black.
I don't understand why the news of the hanging of Afsal is gaining such a momentum that the government is put to blame alleging that it is trying to satisfy some public opinion.let me ask ,isn't public opinion has something to do with democracy?Some days ago there was the hanging of Ajmal Kasab and I was surprised to see there were some hues and cries for his death too.He commited a very serious crime and isn't there any value for the lives of the people died in that shoot out?how can the perpetrator of such crimes walk away with only some punishment while the dimension of his crime is so immense.It is illogical.
Now a days,India is becoming a hotbed of cold-blooded crimes and that is the reason why there is still capital punishment and I believe India doens't need to comply with any international organisation to abolish the same.It is the country's discretionary power.Time will show that it is a good deterrent of serious crimes.
HRW should be more active in other countries where there is no human
rights. In India the government and the people are too tolerant towards
these terrorists and just cause they are allowed to - these HRWs and
what have you voice their uncalled for opinions which are published in
the media causing consternation among the general public.
Please voice your opinion in intolerant societies in our neighborhood.
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