Outmoded Justice Just Like Rogue Regimes

230

June 22, 2014

Published in der Tagessspiegel
(Germany) on 20 June 2014
by Stephan-Andreas Casdorff (link to original link to original)

Translated from by Ron Argentati. Edited by Laurence Bouvard.

Yes, the three inmates executed within 24 hours in the U.S. were murderers and there's no question they belonged in prison. What's questionable: Does that alone justify the “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth” brand of justice?

President Obama questioned the amount of suffering the execution would cause, not the execution itself. The U.S. Constitution guarantees protection from cruel and unusual punishment. Does that not include the death penalty? It's archaic and uncivilized.

The death penalty hasn't reduced the murder rate in America; it is not a deterrent. Nothing can bring the murdered victims back. Nothing. Revenge is out of place in a nation of laws.

But nevertheless, we have these executions, as if in defiance and despite all the objections. The political dimension was also ignored. That America constantly links executions with rogue regimes doesn't appear to occur to it, nor does it realize it makes America no role model for democracy.

After the tragedy in Oklahoma two months ago, Obama declared a six-month moratorium on executions. So much for that.

Archaische Bestrafung wie in Unrechtsregimen
von Stephan-Andreas Casdorff
20.06.2014

Keine zwei Monate nach der Tragödie von Oklahoma gab es die nächsten Hinrichtungen in den USA - obwohl Präsident Barack Obama ihre Vollstreckung eigentlich sechs Monate ausgesetzt hatte. Rache ist keine Kategorie des Rechtsstaats, findet unser Chefredakteur.

Ja, die drei binnen 24 Stunden Hingerichteten in den USA waren Mörder. Und, keine Frage, Mörder gehören ins Gefängnis. Fragwürdig aber ist und bleibt, Auge um Auge, Zahn um Zahn, das eine mit dem anderen zu vergelten. Selbst 43 Minuten Todeskampf, wie im April in Oklahoma entsetzlicherweise geschehen, haben in Amerika, das sich für Fortschrittlichkeit rühmen lässt, keine veränderte Haltung zur Todesstrafe herbeigeführt.

Präsident Barack Obama ließ die Umstände des Leids prüfen, die Prozedur, nicht das Ob überhaupt. Nun schützt die Verfassung Verurteilte vor einem grausamen und ungewöhnlichen Strafvollzug – die Todesstrafe zählt nicht dazu? Das ist archaisch, nicht zivilisiert.

Die Todesstrafe hat die Zahl der Morde nicht verringert, sie schreckt nicht ab. Nichts bringt den Ermordeten zurück, nichts. Rache ist keine Kategorie des Rechtsstaats.

Und dennoch jetzt diese Hinrichtungen: wie zum Trotz, gegen alle Einwände. Die politische Dimension wird auch missachtet. Dass sich die Todesstrafe landläufig mit Unrechtsregimen verbindet, scheint das Land nicht zu kümmern. Nur, so handelt kein Vorbild für Demokratie. Nach der Tragödie von Oklahoma hatte Obama alle Hinrichtungen für sechs Monate ausgesetzt. Vorbei.

This post appeared on the front page as a direct link to the original article with the above link .

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