Plea To Spare Death Row Terrorists
- added July 18, 2008
- 2 responses
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- goldenways
- added this
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Brian Deegan - whose son Joshua, 22, was among 202 killed in October 2002 - said killing the trio risked turning them into martyrs.
He wants their death sentences commuted to life in prison.
Mr Deegan, in an open letter to Indonesian authorities, wrote: "Nothing will return my son to me, to his mother, his family and his friends.
"But the execution of a selected few who were responsible for his death and the death and maiming of hundreds more will not cure the pain.
"I see that no good will come from their execution. I see only harm.
"I will not beg for their lives to be spared. But I seek that which I consider more appropriate. A penalty which will serve as a constant reminder to others. A penalty which will not destroy the lives of their families."
Mr Deegan, a barrister and magistrate in Australia, said he and his footballer son were opposed to the death penalty in all cases.
Authorities have convicted more than 30 Islamic militants over the attack and the three are the only ones on death row.
An Indonesian court has this week rejected a final appeal by the trio - they can still appeal for clemency to the president, but have said they will not do so.
None has shown any remorse and maintain their acts were sanctioned under Islam as revenge for Muslim deaths in Afghanistan and elsewhere.
Islamic militants have carried out three other major attacks on Western targets in Indonesia since then.
The last, in 2005, was also on Bali when three suicide bombers killed 11 people in restaurant attacks.
It is feared the execution of the men could trigger a backlash in Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation.
But most analysts expect any reaction to be small and most likely limited to a show of solidarity at their funeral.
He wants their death sentences commuted to life in prison.
Mr Deegan, in an open letter to Indonesian authorities, wrote: "Nothing will return my son to me, to his mother, his family and his friends.
"But the execution of a selected few who were responsible for his death and the death and maiming of hundreds more will not cure the pain.
"I see that no good will come from their execution. I see only harm.
"I will not beg for their lives to be spared. But I seek that which I consider more appropriate. A penalty which will serve as a constant reminder to others. A penalty which will not destroy the lives of their families."
Mr Deegan, a barrister and magistrate in Australia, said he and his footballer son were opposed to the death penalty in all cases.
Authorities have convicted more than 30 Islamic militants over the attack and the three are the only ones on death row.
An Indonesian court has this week rejected a final appeal by the trio - they can still appeal for clemency to the president, but have said they will not do so.
None has shown any remorse and maintain their acts were sanctioned under Islam as revenge for Muslim deaths in Afghanistan and elsewhere.
Islamic militants have carried out three other major attacks on Western targets in Indonesia since then.
The last, in 2005, was also on Bali when three suicide bombers killed 11 people in restaurant attacks.
It is feared the execution of the men could trigger a backlash in Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation.
But most analysts expect any reaction to be small and most likely limited to a show of solidarity at their funeral.
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- goldenways
- 1 month ago
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Wonderful to hear a father of a son who was murdered by religionists declare in favor of life-long imprisonment rather than exact mere revenge and risk others' lives and further inflaming other religionists.
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- dkincheloe
- 1 month ago
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Well put dkincheloe.
I fully agree. Besides, prison for life is much harder than a quick (mostly) painless death.
I don't think there's a "hell" or anything like that, so they will have it a lot harder in prison.
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