While there is no doubt that Salem did is well deserving of a death sentence, India can not afford to do that since that will go against what Indian government has promised the Portugese government. The law has to be upkept, if the Indian penal code decides to award the death penalty to Abu Salem, India will never be able to extradite other criminals from Europe or any other country which honours UN convention. The death penalty in case of Abu Salem can be replaced by a life sentence, as in imprisonment till life and not for seven years or whatever.
RE:Death penalty for Abu Salem
by Malav on Nov 14, 2005 03:40 PM Permalink
As mentioned earlier if Salem is executed, India might be at a risk to extradite any more criminals from Europe. Even though this might be the case, India should still execute Salem.
If you think it this way, when America wants justice (Saddam for instance or War on Taliban)....does it have to worry about UN Conventions. To hell with it, Americans say.
Justice, in the true sense of the word, cannot have double standards. If UN conventions are really to be imposed, they should be applicable to one and all.
Leniency, in certain situations, does more good than harm. If India follows a lukewarm approach, it is giving out a clear message that people can get away no matter what they do. Nothing can do more harm than that. On the other hand, if he is put to justice, criminals all over the world will get the message that India does not take any nonsense.
Our judiciary should be given enough freedom to met out justice and no preconditions should exist.
These are some of the many reasons, why a criminal like Salem should be put to justice.
RE:Death penalty for Abu Salem
by Harshad on Nov 14, 2005 05:57 PM Permalink
He definitely deserves death penalty but as per the promise by Indian government we can not do that. Indian authorities can reveal the treasure of secrets from the thorough investigations and find the interlinkings.