A little while back they had a debate over ‘Capital Punishment’ at our school. Interestingly enough it became extremely polarized with people pationately arguing their point. On one side were the lawyers (against capital punishment) and the other side were the prosecutors. Anyway, knowing that most of the people in the audience were somewhat religious, the lawyers tried to put religion into it & it got messy!
Anyway, afterwards while discussing with a few other, people seemed to object my pro capital punishment on the basis of my religion. Saying as Islam says so, so you aren’t going against it. It took my by surprise cos my reasons didn’t have much to do with religion. In my opinion, capital punishment is allowed but it’s not something that is encouraged or discouraged in Islam. It’s there & depends on the state to decide to use it or not. The only thing required from Islam is that there be justice! You can’t let go one person with the same crime and hang the other. Rules must apply to all.
I want to know if people here do consider capital punishment necessary? And if so what are their basis of their claim?
Just so guys know, those who argued in that debate for capital punishment:
–Considered it a deterrent.
–Considered it “justice” or in other words “eye for an eye” doctrine
–The society is safe from such a transgressor in the future.
Those who argued against it:
–Showed the picture of 100 people who were on death row but were saved due to DNA testing
–Showed data from cities like Toronto, which had a decline in homicide after they abolished capital punishment
–Argued the person in US is in secure prisons & is not a danger to the society outside, so why should the society take his/her blood on their hands.
–Argued “Thou shall not kill”