Comments on: Tunisia’s Human Rights Activist President to Abolish Death Penalty? http://www.tunisia-live.net/2012/01/20/tunisias-human-rights-activist-president-to-abolish-death-penalty/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=tunisias-human-rights-activist-president-to-abolish-death-penalty Tunisia's first news website in English. We aim to connect Tunisia to the world and offer independent and verified news. Fri, 24 May 2013 08:17:23 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: Sharp-Elbowed Politics in the New Arab World | SHOAH http://www.tunisia-live.net/2012/01/20/tunisias-human-rights-activist-president-to-abolish-death-penalty/#comment-30031 Sharp-Elbowed Politics in the New Arab World | SHOAH Sun, 29 Jan 2012 12:56:56 +0000 http://www.tunisia-live.net/?p=29244#comment-30031 [...] Thousands of political prisoners have been released in Tunisia, a year after dictator Zine El Abidin Ben Ali was overthrown. In addition, 122 prisoners on death [...] [...] Thousands of political prisoners have been released in Tunisia, a year after dictator Zine El Abidin Ben Ali was overthrown. In addition, 122 prisoners on death [...]

]]> By: Sharp-Elbowed Politics in the New Arab World | Dark Politricks http://www.tunisia-live.net/2012/01/20/tunisias-human-rights-activist-president-to-abolish-death-penalty/#comment-29827 Sharp-Elbowed Politics in the New Arab World | Dark Politricks Wed, 25 Jan 2012 23:04:04 +0000 http://www.tunisia-live.net/?p=29244#comment-29827 [...] Thousands of political prisoners have been released in Tunisia, a year after dictator Zine El Abidin Ben Ali was overthrown. In addition, 122 prisoners on death [...] [...] Thousands of political prisoners have been released in Tunisia, a year after dictator Zine El Abidin Ben Ali was overthrown. In addition, 122 prisoners on death [...]

]]> By: Sharp-Elbowed Politics in the New Arab World | My Catbird Seat http://www.tunisia-live.net/2012/01/20/tunisias-human-rights-activist-president-to-abolish-death-penalty/#comment-29798 Sharp-Elbowed Politics in the New Arab World | My Catbird Seat Wed, 25 Jan 2012 08:22:32 +0000 http://www.tunisia-live.net/?p=29244#comment-29798 [...] Thousands of political prisoners have been released in Tunisia, a year after dictator Zine El Abidin Ben Ali was overthrown. In addition, 122 prisoners on death [...] [...] Thousands of political prisoners have been released in Tunisia, a year after dictator Zine El Abidin Ben Ali was overthrown. In addition, 122 prisoners on death [...]

]]> By: Sharp-Elbowed Politics in the New Arab World | Informed Comment http://www.tunisia-live.net/2012/01/20/tunisias-human-rights-activist-president-to-abolish-death-penalty/#comment-29724 Sharp-Elbowed Politics in the New Arab World | Informed Comment Mon, 23 Jan 2012 08:01:08 +0000 http://www.tunisia-live.net/?p=29244#comment-29724 [...] Thousands of political prisoners have been released in Tunisia, a year after dictator Zine El Abidin Ben Ali was overthrown. In addition, 122 prisoners on death [...] [...] Thousands of political prisoners have been released in Tunisia, a year after dictator Zine El Abidin Ben Ali was overthrown. In addition, 122 prisoners on death [...]

]]> By: Afif http://www.tunisia-live.net/2012/01/20/tunisias-human-rights-activist-president-to-abolish-death-penalty/#comment-29712 Afif Sun, 22 Jan 2012 19:45:58 +0000 http://www.tunisia-live.net/?p=29244#comment-29712 I think the death penalty should be maintained in cases of treason and in cases of the intentional killing of a child under 12, in cases of the intentional killing of an elderly over 65 or older, and in cases where the offender's acts during the commission of the crime are so heinous that his or her life should not be spared. Having said this, the problem is that the judicial system and the criminal justice system in Tunisia are not competetent or independent enough to ascertain the true guilt or innocence of a criminal defendant. Additionally, the administration of the death penalty by hanging is cruel and maybe lethal injection should be used instead. I was against the death penalty, but some cases I have read abroad changed my mind and the mind of others were also against the death penalty. The purpose of the death penalty is not to deter future crimes (there is no evidence of that) but rather to punish and to fulfill the community sense of justice. In conclusion, I think we should have a morotorium on the death penalty, until a commission is appointed to study this issue in light of our own reality and the experience of not just Europe, but also the U.S. where most States impose still impose the death penalty. I think the death penalty should be maintained in cases of treason and in cases of the intentional killing of a child under 12, in cases of the intentional killing of an elderly over 65 or older, and in cases where the offender’s acts during the commission of the crime are so heinous that his or her life should not be spared.
Having said this, the problem is that the judicial system and the criminal justice system in Tunisia are not competetent or independent enough to ascertain the true guilt or innocence of a criminal defendant. Additionally, the administration of the death penalty by hanging is cruel and maybe lethal injection should be used instead.
I was against the death penalty, but some cases I have read abroad changed my mind and the mind of others were also against the death penalty. The purpose of the death penalty is not to deter future crimes (there is no evidence of that) but rather to punish and to fulfill the community sense of justice.
In conclusion, I think we should have a morotorium on the death penalty, until a commission is appointed to study this issue in light of our own reality and the experience of not just Europe, but also the U.S. where most States impose still impose the death penalty.

]]> By: Fakr00n http://www.tunisia-live.net/2012/01/20/tunisias-human-rights-activist-president-to-abolish-death-penalty/#comment-29677 Fakr00n Sat, 21 Jan 2012 12:55:50 +0000 http://www.tunisia-live.net/?p=29244#comment-29677 No death sentence have been committed in Tunsisia since 90-91 (I don't remember the exact date). Wich is unique in the muslim world ( with the exception of Morocco and possibly Turkey). The death sentence is practically fading in Tunisia. I hope president Marzouki will take the decisive step towards it's abolition. No death sentence have been committed in Tunsisia since 90-91 (I don’t remember the exact date). Wich is unique in the muslim world ( with the exception of Morocco and possibly Turkey). The death sentence is practically fading in Tunisia. I hope president Marzouki will take the decisive step towards it’s abolition.

]]> By: Gil http://www.tunisia-live.net/2012/01/20/tunisias-human-rights-activist-president-to-abolish-death-penalty/#comment-29659 Gil Fri, 20 Jan 2012 23:46:41 +0000 http://www.tunisia-live.net/?p=29244#comment-29659 Let me also mention that in totalitarian systems around the world the death penalty is often used to intimidate opposition figures. Rachid Ghannouchi the leader of the Ennahda party for example only escaped the death penalty by a hair’s width some 25 years ago. Since Tunisia does not ever want to revert to a totalitarian system again, I think it would be helpful to use the current momentum to abolish the death penalty once and for all. Just look at the current events in Hungary to see how a liberated and democratized country can easily backslide towards more totalitarianism again. Therefore the danger will always exist and the current momentum should be used to remove as many potential tools of oppression as possible. Let me also mention that in totalitarian systems around the world the death penalty is often used to intimidate opposition figures. Rachid Ghannouchi the leader of the Ennahda party for example only escaped the death penalty by a hair’s width some 25 years ago. Since Tunisia does not ever want to revert to a totalitarian system again, I think it would be helpful to use the current momentum to abolish the death penalty once and for all. Just look at the current events in Hungary to see how a liberated and democratized country can easily backslide towards more totalitarianism again. Therefore the danger will always exist and the current momentum should be used to remove as many potential tools of oppression as possible.

]]> By: Gil http://www.tunisia-live.net/2012/01/20/tunisias-human-rights-activist-president-to-abolish-death-penalty/#comment-29656 Gil Fri, 20 Jan 2012 23:15:26 +0000 http://www.tunisia-live.net/?p=29244#comment-29656 I am personally very much against the death penalty. I think that humans simply do not have the right to decide about another human being's right to live. Even if the accused has done some horrific things, that still does not mean that we as a community, as a society, as a state should stoop to the same low spiritual level. Additionally I have the following observation to make: “Azouz stressed that no genuine democracy has the death penalty”. This comment certainly puts him at odds with a huge percentage of Americans. Generally the USA counts as one of the world’s most established democracies despite deficits with regards to the enormous financial power of lobbies and the whole campaign finance system. I am personally very much against the death penalty. I think that humans simply do not have the right to decide about another human being’s right to live. Even if the accused has done some horrific things, that still does not mean that we as a community, as a society, as a state should stoop to the same low spiritual level.

Additionally I have the following observation to make: “Azouz stressed that no genuine democracy has the death penalty”. This comment certainly puts him at odds with a huge percentage of Americans. Generally the USA counts as one of the world’s most established democracies despite deficits with regards to the enormous financial power of lobbies and the whole campaign finance system.

]]>