FEATURED POST

Unveiling Singapore’s Death Penalty Discourse: A Critical Analysis of Public Opinion and Deterrent Claims

Image
While Singapore’s Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) maintains a firm stance on the effectiveness of the death penalty in managing drug trafficking in Singapore, the article presents evidence suggesting that the methodologies and interpretations of these studies might not be as substantial as portrayed.

Indian president defends record death row pardons

President Patil
As India's first woman president ends her term, she is being criticized by the media for being overzealous in granting clemency to nearly three dozen convicts on death row. President Pratibha Patil has defended her choices, insisting she "took well considered decisions" after taking the advice of the home minister.

India's outgoing president has defended herself against media criticism that she went on a "mercy overdrive" during her term by granting clemency to nearly three dozen convicts on death row.

Pratibha Patil, who became India's first woman president in 2007 and leaves office next month, commuted 35 death sentences to life imprisonment during her five years in the post -- more than any other head of state before her.

The Indian media has generally been critical of her record on the issue, questioning why clemency was deemed appropriate in some cases involving murder, rape and child abduction.

"President Pratibha Patil goes on mercy overdrive," was the verdict of the Times of India, while the Mail Today questioned her motives.

"In her apparent overzealousness to come across as the apostle of mercy, she appears to have glossed over some gruesome details," it said.

In a statement issued by her office late Monday, Patil defended her choices, insisting she "took well considered decisions" after taking the advice of the home minister.

"A queer pitch has been created as though many brutal criminals have been shown mercy and released," the statement said. "The President is discharging a constitutional obligation and not doling out generosity."

India has hundreds of condemned convicts awaiting execution, including the killers of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, and Pakistani national Mohammed Ajmal Kasab, the sole surviving gunman from the 2008 Mumbai attacks.

A complex and lengthy appeal process means those sentenced to capital punishment often sit on death row for many years. In most cases the death penalty is commuted to life imprisonment.

India's last execution was in 2004, when a former security guard was hanged for the rape and murder of a 14-year-old schoolgirl.

Source: NY Daily News, June 26, 2012

Related articles:
Jun 06, 2012
On 29 April, President Pratibha Patil of India had commuted the death sentence of a domestic help, Om Prakash of Uttarakhand, who had murdered a retired Brigadier and his two family members, to life imprisonment. Source:.
Sep 14, 2010
The death penalty of Sheoram, Shyam Manohar and four others has also been turned into life imprisonment. They had barged into a house in UP, and had shot dead 3 persons and took out a victory procession with their ...
Jun 02, 2012
On 29 April, President Pratibha Patil of India had commuted the death sentence of a domestic help, Om Prakash of Uttarakhand, who had murdered a retired Brigadier and his two family members, to life imprisonment. Source:...
Jun 01, 2011
Although India voted against the resolution for a moratorium on the use of the death penalty, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2007, 2008 and 2010, President Patil had commuted the death sentences of 20 ...

Most Viewed (Last 7 Days)

California | San Quentin begins prison reform - but not for those on death row

Missouri Supreme Court declines to halt execution of man who killed couple in 2006

Oklahoma | Death row inmate Michael DeWayne Smith denied stay of execution

Indonesia | Bali Prosecutors Seeking Death on Appeal

Ohio dad could still face death penalty in massacre of 3 sons after judge tosses confession

China | Former gaming executive sentenced to death in poisoning of billionaire Netflix producer

Iran | Couple hanged in the Central Prison of Tabriz