Canada does not practise capital punishment -- that is the official position of the government of Canada. It therefore behooves that government to speak with a clear, single voice on this issue, not to set a double standard, or allow its citizens to suffer the death penalty when convicted of crimes in other countries.
It is particularly necessary for our government to intervene when our citizens are arrested in countries that are not known for the fairness of their judiciary systems, like Saudi Arabia. Two Canadian brothers, Mohamed, 23, and Sultan Kohail, 17, have been sentenced to death by beheading for their role in a schoolyard brawl two years ago that resulted in the death of a 19-year-old Syrian male.
It is far from clear that the brothers are culpable in this death, or even that it would be ruled a murder, in this country. The brothers have always maintained they were set upon by a group of youths -- perhaps a dozen, or 14, some armed with clubs and knives. The brothers maintain they were trying to escape from the gang and did not cause the injuries that led to the death of Munzer Hiraki. A confession of guilt was allegedly elicited from him under torture. On March 3, a Saudi court sentenced Mohamed to death by public beheading.
The Kohail family are Canadian citizens. Canada has already asked the Saudi government for clemency for Mohamed. But Mahmoud Al-Ken, a spokesperson for the family, says Prime Minister Stephen Harper must personally intervene if the execution, that may take place in February, is to be prevented.
Sultan Kohail, meanwhile, is waiting to learn his fate. Time is running out for the Kohail brothers.
Canadian parliamentary secretary Deepak Obhrai met with the minister of justice for Saudi Arabia in December. On Dec. 28, Liberal foreign affairs critic Dan McTeague called upon Mr. Harper to travel to Saudi Arabia himself to "step up pressure" on the Saudi government. Surely, the prime minister can do no less.
When Canada's official position does not support the death penalty, the prime minister must either change that position, or uphold it. He cannot sit on the fence while 2 young Canadian citizens are executed in a way most Canadians would describe as barbaric.
Source: The Sault Star, January 6, 2009
It is particularly necessary for our government to intervene when our citizens are arrested in countries that are not known for the fairness of their judiciary systems, like Saudi Arabia. Two Canadian brothers, Mohamed, 23, and Sultan Kohail, 17, have been sentenced to death by beheading for their role in a schoolyard brawl two years ago that resulted in the death of a 19-year-old Syrian male.
It is far from clear that the brothers are culpable in this death, or even that it would be ruled a murder, in this country. The brothers have always maintained they were set upon by a group of youths -- perhaps a dozen, or 14, some armed with clubs and knives. The brothers maintain they were trying to escape from the gang and did not cause the injuries that led to the death of Munzer Hiraki. A confession of guilt was allegedly elicited from him under torture. On March 3, a Saudi court sentenced Mohamed to death by public beheading.
The Kohail family are Canadian citizens. Canada has already asked the Saudi government for clemency for Mohamed. But Mahmoud Al-Ken, a spokesperson for the family, says Prime Minister Stephen Harper must personally intervene if the execution, that may take place in February, is to be prevented.
Sultan Kohail, meanwhile, is waiting to learn his fate. Time is running out for the Kohail brothers.
Canadian parliamentary secretary Deepak Obhrai met with the minister of justice for Saudi Arabia in December. On Dec. 28, Liberal foreign affairs critic Dan McTeague called upon Mr. Harper to travel to Saudi Arabia himself to "step up pressure" on the Saudi government. Surely, the prime minister can do no less.
When Canada's official position does not support the death penalty, the prime minister must either change that position, or uphold it. He cannot sit on the fence while 2 young Canadian citizens are executed in a way most Canadians would describe as barbaric.
Source: The Sault Star, January 6, 2009
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