3.8 Capital punishment

Question 1

What are the purposes of capital punishment?

Answer 1

• Retribution for serious crimes
• The offender may take time before their sentence to repent
• Closure
• Prevention of re offending
• Deterrence

Question 2

What is apostasy?

Answer 2

Committing acts against Islam.

Question 3

Why might Muslims support capital punishment?

Answer 3

• The Qur’an allows it
• May be a last resort, i.e. no other option
• Muhammad sentenced people to death for murder

Question 4

Why might Muslims not support capital punishment?

Answer 4

• The scholars of Shari’ah law do not agree on when it should be used
• Ideas of the sanctity of life, peace & forgiveness
• You are no better than the offender
• You may accidentally put an innocent person to death

Question 5

What are some non-religious attitudes to capital punishment?

Answer 5

• Premeditated killing is wrong
• Human life is special
• Possibility of error
• Capital punishment allows the criminal to escape rather than receiving justice