Accountable

Alan Henning
 

We have been sickened by the barbarism of ISIS/ISIL executions of Westerners in the past couple of months. None of these murders has made sense, but the recent killing of a man from Great Britain, Alan Henning, who was in Syria to provide aid to suffering children was especially atrocious. I find I must fight back my fury each time because of the sheer cowardice.

Because of the international outrage a number of nations, including Canada, have gone to war against these terrorists, in what is to me an ill-defined mission. I also find it bizarre that Saudi Arabia is part of this coalition because a principal form of capital punishment for the kingdom is beheading. Since the beginning of 2014 approximately seventy people have died this way, often for crimes which would receive moderate sentences in many of the other coalition nations. These beheadings happen publicly, as Saudi Arabia is one of several nations which hold public executions.

This isn't the only form of brutal execution in the world. We are reasonably sure that China executes some criminals by a gunshot to the head, and not necessarily by firing squad. There are nations, including Saudi Arabia, which still crucify convicted criminals.

While we may view all this as barbaric, recent incidents in the United States of botched executions by lethal injection have led to new discussions and protests against capital punishment. How does this happen in a country where so many claim Christian values? It wasn't that long ago that capital punishment was an option in Canada, although we can thank God that it hasn't been applied in more than fifty years.

The history of movements to abolish capital punishment has included many Christians who have worked tirelessly and effectively to bring it to an end. We agree that actual criminals must be held accountable for their actions, and we should feel outrage at terrorist acts. But executions for any reason should be called into question in civil and enlightened societies.

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