Opposing voices on death penalty muted but important

• Source: Global Times
• [03:28 January 06 2010]
• Comments

Akmal Shaikh

By Lu Jingxian

British national Akmal Shaikh was put to death in late December, with Chinese public opinion seemingly unanimous in favoring the sentence.

Polls left no doubt about public sentiment. Editorials proclaimed the end of the special treatment given to foreigners, while netizens cheered a drug trafficker getting his due.

There are divergent opinions, but you can hardly hear them. Minority ideas linger in people's minds, yet they are seldom voiced publicly.

Perhaps, many choose to be silent. In a country that still stresses conformity, it's not easy to express an unorthodox viewpoint.

The death sentence is an issue of political correctness. Challenging capital punishment is equal to forgiving a dire sin. It is especially difficult to be on the side of the minority when a diplomatic row is involved.

In a strictly legal sense, it is nearly impossible to dispute Shaikh's fate. He was caught carrying 4 kilograms of heroin into China, a crime subject to the death sentence, and his behavior didn't conform to the Chinese legal defi nition of mental disorder. A defense lawyer was assigned to him. The Supreme People's Court reviewed the case and maintained the verdict.

But many questions surrounding death penalty remained unanswered, and should be openly discussed.

Is it appropriate to take someone's life to compensate for wrong done? There is no clear answer to whether death penalty is justifi ed or not. Even in countries that have repealed capital punishment, the debate is still going on.

What is missing here is a dissenting view in the public forum other than the prevailing public opinion proclaiming "victory." Only because Shaikh is a foreigner, such opposing views are not openly asserted.

Shaikh's sentence stirred deep-seated sentiments among many Chinese.

This included memories of the catastrophes caused by British opium smugglers 150 years ago, as well as resentment at the privileges that foreigners are still seen enjoying in the country, and China's perceived disadvantages in the world political system.

Shaikh's case has become a symbol that China is getting even for the unfairness su. ered in the past. The strong rhetoric from the UK government and media served only to increase public antipathy.

Patriotism aside, the execution of a Chinese criminal does not arouse much open debate either.