Why We Shouldn't Be Critical of Saddam's Hanging

Peris Nduko
On December 30th 2006 Saddam was hanged to death. This followed conviction that he was behind the killing of many Iraqi's over the attempts of his assignation. The question here is whether his execution is justifiable or not.
The hanging of Saddam has elicited the old debate on whether it is justifiable to show the world the killing is bad by killing the killer. But according to me (I am not attempting to justify the hanging of Saddam, but just sharing my mind out) hanging a criminal who deserves capital punishment is justifiable.

Capital punishment is justifiable for one major reason; the elimination of a killer. Killing a criminal does not mean that you are trying to prove to the world that a criminal deserves such punishment, but on the look of things, a capital punishment entails a process of ensuring that such a person is not allowed to flourish and continue killing others. The society is simply trying to develop laws and means whereby those who are cruel and unjust as Saddam are eliminated.

There is also the argument that capital criminals should be confined in prisons forever. This argument is plausible but I don't think that anyone deserves punishment like that. Even the laws that have been enacted to confine people in prison for life are not human. The mental torture that you will never be free until the day you die is just too much. Instead, a person who is guilty of life long imprisonment should be either given the death penalty so that he is relived of the agony more painful than death itself.

And the bible agrees. God himself endorsed capital punishment to capital offenders. The method of execution was public stone throwing, whereas the Romans endorsed the cross. And the capital punishment that God shall execute upon all non believers is the complete destruction by the eternal fire that will consume all sinners forever and forever (until there is neither sinner nor sin anymore).

Let us go back to the hanging of Saddam. For those who say that he should never have been hanged, yet agree that he was guilty of the crimes labeled against him, what method of punishment did he deserve? What kind of punishment could be considered just and fair for those whom he retired to death? Should he enjoy executive treatment in a prison cell with VIP (Very Important Person) level of treat yet the families and friends of those tortured and murdered were wondering whether we have lost the sense of justice? Or should we encourage injustice by totally removing the capital punishment?

Or should Saddam have being confined in a prison cell with daily torture and hard work? Making him pay for all the sins he did when still alive? Should not this method be considered more inhuman than condemning him to death just as he did to those who died under his leadership?

It is a matter of personal opinion but I think that the best way forward in the world of justice is to maintain capital punishment, though different methodologies should be brought to use, with those who committed serious crimes such as Saddam deserving a more painful death experience whereas others undergoing no-pain death experience. If possible, the life long imprisonment is what should be revoked.

Published by Peris Nduko

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  • Saddam's execution has elicited a new wave of debate on the validity of capital punishment
  • Capital punishment should be considered better than lifelong imprisonment
  • Capital punishment should have different methodologies of execution across the globe.

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  • Jeff Musall1/20/2007

    Of course! If you believe in a god that plans on killing/and or torturing those who choose not to follow him, than something as relatively kind as capital punishment should seem tame. And your bible assigns corporal punishment to alot more than just capital crimes-forgot that part, eh?

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