CAPITAL PUNISHMENT

Capital punishment, also known as the death penalty is a government sanctioned practice whereby a person is put to death by the state as a punishment for a crime. Crimes that can result in a death penalty are known as capital crimes and capital offences. Capital punishment has often been debated in favor of opposition, the activity is described as inhumane whereas those who support this idea put out the point of  'some crimes require death to implant fear in others to not repeat the sin'. The latter accuse the former of exonerating the criminals off the right judgement which they deserve.

• Fifty eight countries retain capital punishment, 102 countries have completely abolished it for all crimes, six have abolished it for ordinary crimes (while maintaining it for special circumstances such as war crimes), and 32 are abolitionist in practice (meaning that they have not executed anyone during the last 10 years).
• Over 60% of the world population resides in countries where capital punishment is retained such as United States of America, India, China and Indonesia. The countries that oppose capital punishment are Australia, European Union and Canada etc.

Capital Punishments are considered viable for different and various kinds of crimes which may also vary from country to country. Though some are common such as

1. Homicide guilty may be awarded life imprisonment but genocide guilty suffers the fate of death.
2. Drug trafficking is also considered a death punishable crime though this is the case in Asia mostly. China, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Iran and Singapore are among those countries.
3. Other crimes may include treason, rape, and in many Muslim countries, adultery and blasphemy etc.

China gave death sentences to more than a 1000 prisoners in 2015. Similarly Iran 977 and Pakistan who removed the barrier of no executions after Peshawar Attack executed 326 criminals. The methods used to carry out this practice are as follows with top being the most used:

1. Hanging
2. Shooting
3. Lethal Injection
4. Gas inhalation
5. Beheading (Saudi Arab Only)

Solution:

"The death penalty has no place in 21st century" UN secretary General Ban ki Moon is quoted as saying. The UN has manifested their argument by displaying the statistics of criminal activities as having no relationship whatsoever with the Capital Punishment. This argument is generally supported but the connection is present. The human rights activists criticize Saudi Arab's method of executions especially Stoning to death, which Iran also practices in certain cases. The crime rates do show variation, crime rate of Saudi Arab is 25.52 whereas crime rate of Italy is 45. Though some countries may differ from this theory but majority do abide by this reality even though still supporting the 'no execution' rally. It is respective countries own choice to whether execute the deserving guilty  but historically, when executions were carried out rightfully influenced by the law and justice, it always paved way for betterment. The culpable individuals may not be awarded death sentence but what the seed of fear bowed in the hearts of innocent would do is far more worse for the future.