The Downside of Death Penalty: No Justice in Killing Someone For Justice

Capital punishment also known as the death penalty is a state authorized punishment. 58 countries in the world still support the death penalty and continue to execute people for their misdeeds. The death penalty is not only related to capital offenses, as in certain countries, a person could face execution, for some very minor crimes like stealing, possessing drugs, atheism or for having a homosexual relationship. And in some nations, even the juvenile offenders (below 18 years of age) are not pardoned from these killings.

Countries with most executions (in 2015)

1. China ( 1500 + ) estimated amount.

2. Iran ( 977 + )

3. Pakistan ( 326 )

4. Saudi Arabia (158 + )

5. United States ( 28 )

6. Iraq ( 27 )

In 2015, in total 25 countries had conducted executions. China does not produce any official record regarding the number of people it executes. 1500 + is just an estimated amount, the international watchdogs claim that the actual figures run into thousands.

Capital Offences

Offences that can bring you death penalty are called as capital offences or capital crimes. Some of the petty offences that can lead to execution are:

1. Homosexuality/ Transgenderism: Saudi Arabia, Iran, Yemen

2. Stealing:  Saudi Arabia, North Korea

3. Tax Evasion:  China, Vietnam

4. Drug possession: Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore, Saudi Arabia

5. Watching pornography:  North Korea

6. Pre-marital sex:  Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Iraq, Iran, Yemen

7. Atheism:  Majority of Islamic countries

8. Corruption: China, Cuba, Iran     

Execution Methods

1. Firing Squad: USA, China, Chile, North Korea, Vietnam, UAE, Ukraine etc.

2. Poisonous Gas: USA

3. Toxic Injection:  USA, Taiwan, Philippines, Taiwan

4. Beheading:  UAE, Congo, Saudi Arabia

5. Electrocution:  USA

6. Hanging: India, Japan, USA, Qatar, Iraq, Iran etc.

7. Stoning:  Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia

Racial Prejudice

It has been seen that the people belonging to the racial minorities are more likely to face capital punishment. In most of the cases, the judgement of the government is mostly inclined towards the majority’s point of view. For Example, in America, it has been observed that the black Americans are more likely to get capital punishments in the cases where the victim is white.

Countries With Death Penalty: 60% of the earth’s population live in areas where the executions are authorised by the government. In all countries of Europe (except Belarus), the death penalty has been abolished.

Statistic: More than 1634 people from 25 countries were executed in the year 2015.

Beheading: Executions in some areas of the world are carried out in very inhumane manner. 

Method of Execution: Stoning is used as a capital punishment in certain Islamic countries. Anyone who commits adultery has to face it.

Electric Shock: The USA is the only country in the world that uses electrocution for executing its criminals.

Racial Bias: According to the statistics, Black suspects are 2.5 times more likely to go to jail in the cases where the victim is white.

Killing the Innocent: Since 1976, USA has executed 1420 individuals. 156 people who were on their death row, had been found guilt-free of their crime. In death penalty, there is always a risk of killing an innocent person.

Against Death Penalty: There is no objectivity in killing someone in the name of justice.

Conclusion (Against Death Penalty)

Death is something that is permanent and irreversible. The biggest issue about the death penalty is the wrongful execution of an innocent person. According to a survey, 4% of the suspects that are sentenced to death are actually guilt-free. 

According to me, the death penalty is inhumane and denies the basic right to live. Everyone has a scope of improvement. Proper guidance and counselling can change a person’s mindset. Killing someone is not the solution to crime.