The brutal murder of a young woman enlivens the discussion concerning the restoration of the death penalty as the extreme measure of improving the state of public order in Poland. The Law and Justice, one of the main political parties, sponsors the idea. Meanwhile, human rights organizations are protesting against such a solution. (22-JULY-04)
Two young men murdered a female student on a train, and subsequently threw her body from the vehicle. Shortly after their arrest, they explained that they did it to “celebrate” the birthday of one of them. This crime once again enlivened the discussion about the restoration of the death penalty in Poland. The Politicians from Law and Justice – a party, which demands the sharpening of the penal code – argue that a return to the practice of the death penalty by hanging, which was in use in Poland until 1988, will prevent such crimes from happening in the future. They maintain that the prospect of the death penalty will scare off potential murderers. “The introduction of the death penalty is undoubtedly morally justified, it is morally necessary,” stated the leader of The Law and Justice, Jaros³aw Kaczynski.
The idea met with criticism on the part of human rights organizations. The Helsinki Committee in Poland issued a statement in connection with this, in which, among others, it notes:
“The experiences of countries, in which the death penalty is applied and performed, as well as those, which – like European states – rejected it, indicate that the efficiency of law enforcement authorities and the judiciary is a more effective means in the fight against crime.
The death penalty ruins the faith in the absolute, inalienable value of human life. It´s this faith that has to be propagated and upheld, because it is the basis for public morals. That is why we oppose the restitution of the death penalty in Poland, as well as the instrumental treatment of this problem by politicians.”
