View not against the rape verdict
Dear Sir,
This has reference to the letter ‘Contradictory and inconsistent’ (Gulf Times, September 22). I am afraid that my letter was read by the correspondent from a different angle and I could find no reason for construing it as he put it. In fact the very title of my letter ‘A message to criminals’ is itself a proof that my view is not against the verdict but an endorsement.
To my mention about the reactions to the verdict “as anticipated” Sivaraman asked whose anticipation. It was “my” anticipation as also of many observers of the events, since there are schools of thought both for and against capital punishment, especially in the background that the much-awaited fast-track court verdict published because of the nature of death sentence for all the guilty persons, except one in view of immaturity.
Upon reading the news with the pre-verdict considerations for such a judgment, one could easily anticipate criticisms from rights activists. To put matters in perspective, together with my observations, it is only natural that one quotes their various arguments against the verdict.
I do believe that circumstances lead many people to become criminals. Lack of education is the primary cause of derailing and falling into anti-social activities – mostly for fun in the initial stage moving on to criminality later. Education, including moral education adding values in the character building process, is the fundamental treatment to prevent such diseases within society as such education promotes humanity, respect for dignity and mores and manners.
Yes, I am of the conviction that “no man-made law is perfect to eradicate crimes”. By citing this statement I was not advocating that no laws are required. Instead, my implied case was that our civil and criminal laws are not enough to stamp out the crimes from the society as it absolutely depends upon the efficacy of execution of such laws, extent of which varies from state to state. I again do believe that the divine laws edified by religions are equally or more potentially inspiring for believers to follow. For example, drug trafficking is a crime for which death penalty is the punishment in some countries. In Saudi Arabia, it is beheading in public. I do not believe that those who still commit the crime are ignorant of their life and their families’ fate but, they pin hopes on escaping the hands of law. If one believes that even if he succeeds in escaping from the hands of law of the land, one cannot escape the final divine judgment, it can potentially prevent a crime.
I am constrained to note that the letter-writer read my letter as saying that I did feel sorry for the four members of the society whereas I did show no sympathy to the helpless girl!! If he read my letter with its direct intent, he could have understood what my feelings were. Apparently, he got confused in the first instance of reading my letter and developed thoughts in misconception? I was expressing my worry over the hysterical mood of the people outside the court who were celebrating the death penalty by distributing sweets. It is a totally negative mindset as death penalty for four is absolutely not an occasion for celebration. As the press reported viewed, the scene was upsetting. This doesn’t meant that I was sorry for the four criminals. My sympathies for the hapless girl had been expressed in this column when she was in the hospital.
To put the record straight, I have no quarrels with Sivaraman’s view, although no two persons express views in the same phrase, “The crime was heinous and the culprits deserved the verdict whatever their ages” regardless of the Right Group’s different views.
K K Nazimudeen, PO Box No 441, Doha
Please send us your letters
By e-mail: [email protected]
Fax 44350474
All letters, which are subject to editing, should have the name of the writer, address and phone number. The writer’s name and address may be withheld by request.