Human Rights watch has called on Jordan to abolish the death penalty following "flawed justice" in the handling of two cases. Here is an excerpt :
New information in a murder case that led to the execution of a suspect in 2000 provides a compelling new reason for Jordan to abolish the death penalty, Human Rights Watch said today.
The Jordanian justice system has failed dramatically in the murder case against Bilal Musa, executing him for murder based on a confession that was likely obtained as a result of torture, but exonerating another man who voluntarily confessed to committing the same crime.
Human Rights Watch also sent a letter to Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit urging him to abolish the death penalty. Read the full text of that here. Just last month His Majesty King Abdullah told the foreign press that Jordan would be working towards abolishing capital punishment.
As someone who strongly opposes capital punishment, I’m really hopeful that Jordan will be amongst the first nations in the Arab World to abolish this practice. With this report and the King ‘s statements, it seems the ball is already rolling. Let’s wait and see. Also make sure to read Issam Smeir’s excellent post on capital punishment.
From the Jordanian Blogosphere
Some interesting and controversial social topics are being discussed in the Jordanian blogosphere this week.
Freedom of Speech
Freedom of speech is not a given commodity in the Arab world, but are there winds of change? Naseem Tarawneh reports abou…
Dear Afaq,
Welcome to Mental Mayhem and thank you for your kind words about my blog. The answer to your question is no, I do not think that those that commit honor crimes should be put to death, since as you know I’m totally against capital punishment. What’s their punishment? Well, I guess it depends on the case, and I’m no expert in judicial affairs, but I believe that capital punishment can always be subsituted substituted by life in prison.
Naseem, I don’t think there will be great opposition to abolishing the death penalty in Jordan. I’m sure there will be some, but not to the extent of overthrowing the monarchy.
I think capital punishment should be “put on hold” in a country like Jordan where the judiciary is basically .. well lets say crippled. I don’t think our judiciary has earned the right to hand out a death penalty. And if you’re going to ask, yes, I do believe that the right to hand out a death penalty does exist and can be achieved.
i’ve been an avid reader of the various blogs on jordanplanet, and i find yours very particularly up to date and insightful. i would just like to know how you feel about so-called “honor” killers or murderers, do you not think they should be candidates for capital punishment? if not, what alternative penalty would you support or even propose?
thank you
afaq
Thank you.
Dear Abd Alsattar,
Are you asking me if I would change my mind if one of my family members was murdered (God forbids)? The answer is no. I will not. I wil be horrified and devaststed but I will not want another killing to be committed in pursuit of justice, or revenge in this case.
Issam, whether you’d like to admit it or not if the king were to remove the death penelty he would not last the week in the country and this would not come from his opposition but from his support base which is what he relies on to stay in power. he knows this all too well.
my own views of capital punishment have nothing to do with this, i am pointing out what is bound to happen should this come to light of day. personally i do not advocate capital punishment but see it necessary in some situations. personally i would rather face death than a lifetime of no freedom. people on either side of our borders have died for a lot less.
as for human rights, it’s so strange the human rights is more concerned with the brutal practices of the 3rd world over that of the 1st (and therefore civilized world).
thank you
Nas, your comment was totally irresponsible and outrageous. The king Going for a vacation, may be you should go for a long one. All of what you need is look at the civilized world arround you for a second and you can tell that countries who abolished death penaltiy are those who care the most about human rights. What I don’t understand that people who claimed to be harrased the most by Arabic governments (Islamists) are those the strongest defendant of this brutal practice even thought that it might be used against them.
How you feel if one of your familie murder.[la samah alla]
Tookie just got executed in cali
let them deal with the US first
p.s. the day it is abolished in Jordan is the day the King goes away for a long long vacation. so yeah, it’s as unlikely as penguins flying.