[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----worldwide

[Rick Halperin]

Oct. 21



INDIA:

Capital punishment reminiscent of barbarism: Habibullah


Terming capital punishment as an act "reminiscent of barbarism", National 
Minorities Commission Chief Wajahat Habibullah has said he was against the idea 
of death penalty even for people like Afzal Guru, Rajiv Gandhi assassins and 
Devender Pal Singh Bhullar.

"I am personally against the idea of death penalty. That is principally because 
I am also a Buddhist. For me depriving a human being, however, evil he is, by 
an act of state is reminiscent of barbarism," Habibullah told PTI here.

Asked whether the hanging of people like Parliament attack case convict Afzal 
Guru, Rajiv Gandhi killers and Khalistani terrorist Bhullar could hurt the 
sentiments of minorities in the country, Habibullah said he does not support 
the idea of taking someone''s life even as a punishment for any crime.

"I would not support the idea of death penalty. Rajiv Gandhi was a very dear 
friend of mine but he is gone. He cannot come back. Is taking another life 
would help in anyway? We know that his daughter went and visited those people 
(Rajiv''s killers) in jail," he said.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had recently said that the 
hanging of Guru could lead to rise in militancy in the state.

Distancing himself from the views expressed by Abdullah, Habibullah said, "I 
would not really like to comment unnecessarily on this with regard to what Omar 
had said, but I would like to say that I am personally against the idea of 
death penalty."

Observing that even Islamic Law, which permits death penalty, encourages the 
family of the aggrieved to forgive, he said that having entered into 21st 
century, the country must rise upto a few things.

"In India we are very proud to say it is the oldest surviving civilisation in 
the world, and my idea is, we are proud of it because of the inputs of people 
like Gautam Buddha and Mahavir who spoke for non-violence and forgiveness. That 
is our civilisation," he said.

(source: Money Control)