Public executions
Nature
Public executions are the practice of carrying out death sentences in front of an audience. Historically intended as a deterrent and a display of state power, public executions are now widely regarded as a human rights problem. They often involve cruelty, humiliation, and the risk of desensitizing or traumatizing spectators, including children. International organizations, such as the United Nations, condemn public executions as degrading and incompatible with modern standards of justice and human dignity. The continued use of public executions in some countries highlights ongoing challenges in the global effort to abolish cruel and inhumane punishments.
Background
Public executions have drawn international attention since the 18th century, when abolitionist movements in Europe and North America began to denounce their spectacle and social impact. The problem gained renewed global scrutiny in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, as human rights organizations documented ongoing public executions in several countries, highlighting their use as tools of intimidation and control. Media coverage and advocacy have intensified calls for their abolition, framing them as a persistent human rights concern.
Incidence
In 1993, Amnesty International reported that public executions in Saudi Arabia have reached "shocking proportions" in the past year, with a fourfold increase to 105 in the number of people being beheaded publically. The executions often followed grossly unfair trials. One Shi'ite Muslim was beheaded after being convicted of blasphemy and renouncing his faith. He was arrested for throwing stones three years before his execution, and was reportedly tortured and held in solitary confinement for long periods.
Claim
Public executions are a grave violation of human rights and dignity, perpetuating a culture of violence and fear. They desensitize societies to brutality, undermine justice, and inflict irreversible psychological harm on witnesses, especially children. Such barbaric practices have no place in a civilized world and must be condemned and abolished immediately. Addressing this issue is crucial for upholding humanity, promoting justice, and ensuring a safer, more compassionate global society.
Counter-claim
Public executions are not an important problem in today’s world. They are virtually nonexistent in most countries and have no significant impact on modern society. With far more pressing issues like poverty, climate change, and healthcare demanding our attention, focusing on public executions is a distraction. Energy and resources should be directed toward real, widespread problems that affect millions, rather than a practice that is largely obsolete and irrelevant in contemporary times.
Broader
Aggravated by
Related
Metadata
Database
World problems
Type
(D) Detailed problems
Biological classification
N/A
Subject
- Government » Public
Content quality
Unpresentable
Language
English
1A4N
J5406
DOCID
12054060
D7NID
174877
Editing link
Official link
Last update
Oct 4, 2020