Death
By Dana AbouDargham & Ghinwa Tarabay
American
Community School
Mrs. Nada
AbiSamra
English
9(2)
Brevet
December, 2001
Brevet- 9:2
2001-2002
Mrs. Nada AbiSamra
Outline
Purpose: The purpose behind my choosing this topic is
that it captured my interest; it is really a very fascinating topic to research
and learn about.
General statement:
Throughout
the past centuries, different civilizations punished their criminals using
diverse methods; however, death was the punishment for several criminals.
Narrow down:
What is capital punishment and include some general facts about it to back it up.
Thesis:
All
in all capital punishment is the punishment of criminals by legal killing. It
has been used throughout the past centuries, however several
governmental/religious groups around the world are against it and some support
it; therefore, it has caused a lot of conflicts.
Anti death penalty
Countries that have stopped executing
International Abolition drives
Religion and the death penalty
Early Christian views
What the bible says
Muslim Views
What the Quran say
Death penalty and methods
Methods
Lethal injection
History of lethal injection
Electrocution
History of electrocution
Lethal Gas/ Gas chamber
History of the gas chamber
Hanging
History of Hanging
Firing Squad
History
of the firing squad
How does it affect me as an individual?
What are my views?
How dose it affect my country
Execution in 1995 (Elias Alehrawi)
Capital Punishment in Lebanon Nowadays
The daily Star Article
Interviews
Different
points of view
RESTATEMENT of THESIS:
In conclusion, Capital
Punishment has been used for centuries as a retribution for criminals; however,
throughout these centuries it has caused more problems then solved, since
several groups/religions are against it and some entirely support it.
Opening up:
All
through the years, the world has been trying to find a solution for this
problem, whether to abolish it or maintain it.
If
people worked together, life would be easier, and no mistakes would occur in
the first place
Throughout the past centuries, different civilizations punished their criminals using diverse methods; however, death was the punishment for several criminals. Countries follow a set of rules or laws known as the Death Penalty or Capital Punishment to penalize their criminals through death. Literally, "capital" in "capital punishment" refers to a person's head. In the past, people were often executed by having their heads severed from their bodies. However, death penalty has been an issue that affected the world in several ways. Some are against it, and some support it, and this has caused a lot of conflicts. "We opposed the death penalty not just for what it does to those guilty of heinous crimes, but for what it does to all of us: it offers the tragic illusion that we can defend life by taking life." [1]On the other hand, "Does it make sense for the state to hire murderers to kill defenseless victims on death row, in order to prove that hiring murderers to kill defenseless victims is morally wrong?"[1]
All in all capital punishment is the punishment of criminals by legal killing. It has been used throughout the past centuries, however several governmental/religious groups around the world are against it and some support it; therefore, it has caused a lot of conflicts.
Facts:
Religions and their Different Perspectives: Religion played a major role in this issue, since a large number of everyone's acts depend on their religious beliefs. Several religions support capital punishment, but some don't. Therefore, I have chosen to compare opinions from two different religions. The first one is Christianity, and the second is Islam.
Christians are strictly forbidden
to attend any executions, to execute and lay a charge on a person if the
consequence is execution. Several Christian philosophers and religious people
wrote various books about this issue. For example, Lactantius (260 to 330 CE) a
very famous writer and "well known for his books" 'Introduction to
True Religion' and 'The Divine Institutions'.
However Islam supports Capital Punishment unlike the Christians. The "Quran" (holy book) approves capital punishment. It has been mentioned in several verses throughout the holy book that "The killer is to be killed and the punishment of adultery is stoning till death." Even though a large amount of people disagree that capital punishment should be the consequences of a crime, several countries still insist on using it. For example, In Saudi Arabia the punishment of a murder, adultery and other crimes is stoning and hanging. Briefly, religion has played a big role in a country's politics and has affected capital punishment, throughout the world.
Anti-Capital
punishment: All over the world the anti-capital punishment groups
formed international abolition drives, to eliminate death penalty. So, several
conferences were held. For example, on the 25th of December of the
year 1998, Pope John Paul II called for a worldwide moratorium on the use of
death penalty. Another example would be the meeting that was held in Geneva,
Switzerland, in the year 1999, by the United Nations' Commission for Human
Rights. In this worldwide meeting they negotiated the abolition of the death
penalty. However the conference failed, apart from the very small number of
countries that did abolish it. In spite of this malfunction, they obtained a
moratorium 'that might lead to abolition'. Furthermore, in the year 2000, a
petition called the "Moratorium 2000" have been circulated the world
concerning the elimination of the death penalty; so far, millions around the
globe of people have signed this petition. In brief, several meetings and
groups have been fighting against the use of capital punishment around the
world.
|
Year |
Abolished
death penalty for all crimes |
Abolished
death penalty for ordinary crimes |
|
1976 |
Portugal |
Canada |
|
1977 |
||
|
1978 |
Denmark |
Spain |
|
1979 |
Luxembourg, Nicaragua, Norway |
Brazil, Fiji, Peru |
|
1980 |
|
|
|
1981 |
France, Cape Verde |
|
|
1982 |
Netherlands |
|
|
1983 |
Cyprus,
El Salvador |
|
|
1984 |
Argentina |
|
|
1985 |
Australia |
|
|
1986 |
||
|
1987 |
Haiti,
Liechtenstein, German Democratic Republic |
|
|
1988 |
||
|
1989 |
Cambodia,
New Zealand, Romania, Slovenia |
|
|
1990 |
Andorra,
Croatia, Czech & Slovak Federal Republic, Hungary, Ireland, Mozambique,
Namibia, São Tomé, Principe |
Nepal |
|
1991 |
Slovenia,
Croatia |
|
|
1992 |
Angola,
Switzerland |
Paraguay |
|
1993 |
Greece,
Guinea-Bissau, Hong Kong |
|
|
1994 |
Italy |
|
|
1995 |
Mauritius,
Moldova, Spain |
South
Africa |
|
1996 |
Belgium |
|
|
1999 |
Bermuda |
*Russia and many more countries not listed above retain capital punishment statutes on their books, but have not executed criminals in many years. Russia, for example, executed its last prisoner on death row in 1996. A UN Economic and Social Council report lists the current status of the death penalty in most of the countries of the world.
Methods of
execution:
There are several methods of execution that are used through out the world; however, there are seven main methods. They are the following: Hanging, Electric Chair, Firing squad, Gas Chamber, Lethal injection, Guillotine and stoning.
Lethal injection: Is a combination of three
drugs. Sodium thiopental (or 
sodium
pentothal), this drug makes the prisoners unconscious. The second is
pancuronium bromide; this drug relaxes the muscles and paralyzes the diaphragm
and lungs. The third is potassium chloride; it causes cardiac arrest. This
injection will be injected through both arms in large quantities, and of course
will lead to the prisoner's death.
History of the lethal injection: This method was first proposed in 1888, in New York. The first state to adopt it was Oklahoma (1997). The first prisoner that was executed by lethal injection was Charlie Brooks.
Electrocution: This method of execution uses a
wooden chair with restrainers and connections to an electric current. The chair
is made of oak and is set on a thick rubber platform that is bolted to a
concrete floor. The lap, chest, arm and forearm are secured with straps. The
headgear is made of a metal headpiece that is covered with a leather hood to
wrap the prisoners head. Then they send huge currents of electricity 
(2,300volts)
through the wires that are attached to the prisoner's body.
History of the Electric Chair:the first state to adopt this method was New York in the year 1888. The first man that was executed by electrocution was William Kemmler in the year 1890. From 1930 to 1980, the electric chair was the most common method for execution.
Lethal Gas/ Gas Chamber:
This method uses a small steel chamber, with a chair 
attached
to it and restraints. The chest, waist, arms, and ankles are secured with
straps connected to the chair. The prisoner wears a mask during this process of
execution. Under the seat a metal container is placed. Underneath the container
a metal canister that is filled with sulfuric acid solution is set up.
History of the Gas Chamber:
The gas chamber was inspired by the use of poisonous gas in World War I. The
first state to adopt this method of execution was Nevada in 1924. In the same
year the first execution through this process took place. The last execution by
lethal gas was in the year 1999.
Hanging: This process takes place in a gallows
area and the prisoner is placed over a hinged trap door from which he will be
dropped from. Before the execution, the prisoner says a few words, then a hood
is placed over his head and the noose is positioned around the convict's neck
behind his/her left ear to allow the pressure form the drop to snap his/her
neck.
History of hanging: Hanging is the oldest method of execution. It was the most common before the electric chair was invented. There have been only three executions since 1977, through this method: Westley Dodd (1993), Charles Campbell (1994), and Billy Bailey (1998).
Firing Squad:
This method uses a specially designed chair, which has a pan beneath it to
catch the flow of blood. The arms, legs, chest, and head are secured with
straps attached to the chair. At about 20 feet in front of this chair there is
a wall that has firing ports. After the offender says his last words, a hood is
placed over his head. Then all these weapons aim to the same point, which is
usually the chest.
History of the Firing Squad: This method has been only used twice: Gary Gilmore
(1977) and John Albert (1996). However it was very common "with the
military times of war, there has been one such execution since the civil war:
Private Eddie Slovak in World War II."
Guillotine:A Famous French invention, not used in North America. It severs the neck. Death comes quickly.
Stoning: The prisoner is pelted with rocks until they eventually die. This method was never used in North America. It is common in some Muslim countries as a penalty for murder, adultery and other crimes.
Analysis
My Views about this topic: As I have mentioned before Capital punishment has affected the world in several ways. Before this research, I knew some information about it, but now I have learned a lot more about the world. The nice thing in researching is that you think you know a lot of information, but in reality you don't know enough. Since I picked this topic, and after knowing more about it, it has started affecting me. I've started interviewing people that actually attended an execution, and the stories they told me were carved into my head; I couldn't stop thinking about them, and some nights, I would just wake up and think more. They were really heartbreaking stories. But I learned a lot. After all this research I still think that it is hard to be totally against Capital Punishment or even totally with it. But, that was the toughest part for me throughout this research, to find out what I should really side with, however in the end I was in between, I don't agree on death being the consequence to every crime, "If we execute murderers and there is in fact no deterrent effect, we have killed a bunch of murderers. If we fail to execute murderers, and doing so would in fact have deterred other murders, we have allowed the killing of a bunch of innocent victims. I would much rather risk the former. This, to me, is not a tough call."[1] Except to come and think about it, we all have sinned in our lives " He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first." [1] In conclusion, I don't think Capital Punishment is completely wrong, and isn't entirely right.
How does capital punishment affect my country? Lebanon has a very rich and long history. As we all know, Lebanon was captured by the Turks during World War I. The country was divided into two different parts, Beirut and the country side. A great number of people were against there rule since the Turkish leader "Jamaal Basha" (ÌãÇá ÈÇÔÇ) was ruining their protocol. The groups that formed a rebellion were imprisoned by the Turkish military and were executed. One of the famous dates were a large number of Lebanese people where executed was the 16th of April. After the Turkish left the land, executions were moratorium; however in the year 1995 executions arose. Several innocent and guilty lives died. The method that Lebanon used was hanging. One of my dad's friends entered the military then, and was forced to attend those executions. He told me a lot of stories. He said "it was so difficult for all of us, you can't sleep, you can't even eat after watching them…..but then you get used to it, but somehow it just bugs you for the rest of your life, I mean I still get nightmares from it." In brief, Lebanon did use capital punishment in the past; however I don't know if they still do nowadays, but I hope not.
Capital Punishment in Lebanon Nowadays: Last year, there was a conference that was held in Lebanon (Sahit Al-Nijmeh) about the abolishment of Capital Punishment. The Daily Star issued an article about it:
Lebanon:
The End of the Death Penalty?
"As top leaders faced
popular pressure on Thursday to freeze the death penalty, activists hope the
next round in their fight will be won in a parliamentary committee next week.
A draft law that would drop
the infamous Article 302 of the penal code, which prevents judges from
endorsing lesser sentencing and forcing judges to impose the death penalty on
convicted murderers, will be discussed next Wednesday by Parliament's Justice
and Administration Committee.
Akkar MP Michael Daher, who
heads the committee, told The Daily Star that any amendment, should it be
passed by the House, will not affect sentences that have already been passed.
Only the cases that are
still before the court, will be affected by this amendment, Daher said.
The president, Daher
remarked, is the only one who has the power to grant pardons or commute death
sentences.
Baalbek-Hermel MP Marwan
Fares, chairman of Parliament's Human Rights committee, said he expected the
amendment to pass, citing parliamentary consensus over the issue.
He considered the
legislation, if endorsed, an achievement in itself and an important step toward
abolishing capital punishment.
Meanwhile, a silent "crisis
of conscience" demonstration was organized by the Movement for People's
Rights on Thursday.
8 "executioners"
wearing black masks and holding nooses led several hundred people from
Parliament's headquarters in Nijmeh square to the Mathaf area, where the
Cabinet holds its weekly sessions.
Those taking part included
members of human rights groups, representatives of political parties and
religious figures.
During the silent protest,
activists held banners with slogans such as "Don't murder, don't legalize
revenge" and "two crimes don't equal justice."
At Mathaf, a "scene of
hope" was acted out a number of children, who in less than a minute were
able to turn the tools of death into an innocent game.
Dressed in bright colors, 10
youngsters aged between 6 and 12 approached the executioners, kissed them on
both cheeks, removed their masks and helped them put their nooses on the
ground.
Afterward, they untied the
ropes and played with them. One of the "hope" squad, 11-year-old Jessica,
said that she was happy she contributed to the event.
"People should
understand that killing won't bring them any good," she said.
"I hate executions and
I think that it's better to play with ropes than to kill people with them, even
if they aren't good," she said. "The evil person must have had
his reasons."
MPR's Walid Slaybi, who said
he preferred not to make statements due to the silent nature of the protest,
would speak only of the efficient work of his group.
"We are achieving
something and we have achieved something. The fact that Parliament is
discussing Article 302 is already something," Slaybi said.
"I am in the service of
humankind and true justice. I am also in the service of the delinquent,"
said Father Khawand, who marched with the group.
"Punishment means
rehabilitation, not murder," he said, stressing the importance of the
independence of the judiciary in sentencing.
"No authority, or
person or ideology has the right to kill people," he added.
Ali Aqil Khalil, a representative
of the International Human Rights Organization, argued that the time has come
for the country to consider the abolition of the death penalty, since such a
step could show the country's concern with human rights issues.
"Turkey has
reconsidered the execution of its worst enemy, Abdullah Ocalan, because it did
not want to look bad in the eyes of the international community, and because it
wants to join the European Union," he said.
"Rather than capital
punishment we should be looking for the reasons behind the crime," he
said, blaming unhealthy social conditions for many crimes.
18-year-old Rashad Abu
Mjar," a member of the Communist Party, said capital punishment was an
outdated practice.
"How can we expect
Lebanon to become a civil society, if we still adopt such a procedure?" he
asked. "The judge has become a tool that the politicians use to score
points.
"I don't get it, are we
compensating the parents of a victim with a corpse for their loss?" he
asked.
Alone in the crowd with
tears in her eyes stood Roro Rayyes, whose 19-year-old son Yehia is on death
row.
"There is no real
justice, only the poor makes it to the rope," she said as she took part in
the march."[1]
Conclusion
In conclusion, Capital
Punishment has been used for centuries as a retribution for criminals; however,
throughout these centuries it has caused more problems then solved, since
several groups/religions are against it and some entirely support it. All
through the years, the world has been trying to find a solution for this
problem, whether to abolish it or maintain it. However, some countries did
eradicate it, but there is a long trail of countries left. I reached to a
conclusion –individual one- that capital punishment shouldn't be the penalty to
all the crimes, for it wouldn't have solved anything. Countries have been
killing criminals, but the number of them has been increasing rather then
decreasing. Therefore, this way of retribution hasn't made any difference. But,
on the other hand, some criminals can't be controlled, so death has to be their
punishment. If people worked together, life would be easier, and no mistakes
would occur in the first place. In brief, this act has affected a lot, in all
sorts of ways.