Former Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi waves at his trial with other Muslim Brotherhood members in Cairo, in May. He was subsequently sentenced to death. Egypt is among a handful of African countries that regularly execute.
Reuters/Mohamed Abd El Ghany
As with most aspects of criminal justice in sub-Saharan Africa, the death penalty as it currently exists in law is a colonial import. Criminal justice before the modern era was a private matter.
Executions are rare in India, but debate over the death penalty is intense.
EPA/Farooq Khan
India has only hanged four criminals since 2003. But given the state is founded on principles of non-violence, it’s surprising they executed any of them.
In returning Paul Grigson to Jakarta so swiftly, the Australian government proved that its choice to put its relationship with Indonesia at risk for short-term political opportunism was pointless.
Simon Mabon, Lancaster University and Lucia Ardovini, Lancaster University
Two years after the ousting of Egypt’s first democratically elected president, military rule is now firmly entrenched.
Despite global protests, the executions will not harm Indonesia’s position in international bodies and its co-operation with other countries.
EPA/AGUS SUPARTO
Despite global protests, the executions will not harm Indonesia’s position in international bodies and its co-operation with other countries.
Australia’s appeal to spare reformed Bali duo Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran failed in the face of Indonesia’s retributive justice system.
EPA/MAST IRHAM
Giri Ahmad Taufik, Indonesian Center for Law and Policy Studies (PSHK)
In spite of vigorous appeals from Australia for Indonesia to spare the lives of Bali duo Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, most Indonesians were not persuaded. Chan and Sukumaran were executed last week…
In the 1980s, opposition to the death penalty imposed on political prisoners in Indonesia united Indonesians and citizens of countries around the world.
from BOONROONG/www.shutterstock.com
While recent executions by Indonesia have captured the world’s attention, this year is also the 30th anniversary of the execution of political prisoners that first created global concern.
Feelings are running high in Australia.
EPA/Dan Himbrechts
Whatever you think of capital punishment, if your police force helps convict people of capital crimes, you are complicit to some degree.
Indonesians are sensitive about issues of respect for their nation and its sovereignty, as protests at Tony Abbott’s linking of aid with calls for clemency showed.
EPA/Bagus Indahono
Indonesians have long felt that Australia lacks respect for their nation’s sovereignty, but Indonesia’s status as a rising power adds to the urgency of recalibrating our approach to the relationship.
More people will die under an imperfect judicial system if Indonesia does not learn from its mistake.
AAP/Mick Tsikas
The executions in Indonesia were a mistake. Eight people are dead, including Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, despite alleged violations in the judicial process.
Bali Nine member Scott Rush’s father alerted the AFP to his son’s plans in the hope they would stop him from travelling to Indonesia.
AAP/Made Nagi
The AFP revised the guidelines on international co-operation since alerting Indonesia to the Bali Nine but there is arguably still an imbalance between security and human rights considerations.
Julie Bishop and Tony Abbott are firm advocates of human rights when Australians are executed but not when asylum seekers are involved.
AAP/Lukas Coch
In condemning Indonesia’s execution of Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, Australia has relied on the same human rights obligations that it rejects when applied to asylum seekers.
Indonesia’s most distinguished practising human rights lawyer, Mulya Lubis, is central to continuing efforts in Indonesia to abolish the death penalty.
The Australian-Indonesia relationship has become frosty and personal, which will test the diplomatic skills of Tony Abbott and Joko Widodo.
AAP/Eka Nickmatulhuda
Australia’s politicians were unable to make the most persuasive argument for clemency for Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran because Australia is also a combatant in the misguided war on drugs.