Capital Punishment

Question 1

What is ‘Capital Punishment’?

Answer 1

• Where a criminal is killed by the authorities for their crime

Question 2

What are the arguments for Capital Punishment?

Answer 2

• It protects us as the criminal is no longer alive and cannot hurt us
• It is detterence
• It allows retribution as victims families can get their own back

Question 3

Give religious views for Capital Punishment

Answer 3

• Some Christians agree with it as the bible says an ‘eye for an eye’, which suggests you can take a life for a life
• Islam allows the death penalty for murder and the Qur’an also uses the phrase ‘an eye for an eye’

Question 4

What are the arguments against Capital Punishment?

Answer 4

• The person might be found to be innocent later on
• It is inhumane, as no form of capital punishment can be 100% painless
• In the USA, it does not reduce crime

Question 5

What are the religious views against Capital Punishment?

Answer 5

• Christians say that the ten commandments say you cannot kill - ‘Thou shall not kill’
• Christians believe you should ‘love your ‘neighbour’
• Islam allows the murder victims family to ask for ‘blood money’ instead of killing the criminal

Question 6

What is the ‘Shari’ah Law’?

Answer 6

• The Islamic Law
• Some punishments include: Chopping off hands for theft, flogging for adultery + gambling and death penalty for murder
• The Qu’ran says ‘an eye for an eye’ like the Bib;e