DEATH PENALTY-MOROCCO: Conformist Media Blamed for Public Apathy

DEATH PENALTY-MOROCCO: Conformist Media Blamed for Public Apathy

www.ipsnews.net

Lack of media interest in reporting on death penalty issues is responsible for widespread public indifference to whether or not Morocco eventually abolishes capital punishment, according to analysts and activists here.

"The Moroccan media has not yet made abolition part of its agenda," Driss Ould Kabla, editor-in-chief of the Al-Michal weekly, told IPS.

Morocco’s last execution was in 1993, but death sentences continue to be handed down for murder. Human rights activists believe there are more than 150 currently on death row in the country.

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In todays world, how important is the death penalty?

Is it something that should be abolished as some claim it is legal murder. Should it be sustained as a deterrent?

Would you still agree to it if it was a family member or other loved one being sent to die?

Is the death penalty 'out of date'? Do we have to wake up to the underlying causes of such crimes that need to have this penalty implemented?

An eye for an eye used to be the rule, but does that hold sway still?

In this so-called modern world, have we not learnt any lessons from our past? Why do countries like the USA still feel the need to kill certain individuals who have committed certain crimes, where the UK abolished the death penalty years ago and seems to be getting on fine without it.

Do we still have a desire to watch the gladiators or lions slaughter people in their hundreds? Did the Roman Emperors have their finger on the right buttons which gave them the success they built. Is it a feeling of satisfaction we get inside us when another murderer has been legally killed? I

Is it that feeling that has given many countries the power to continue the death penalty?

Or is it just good TV ratings?

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reply to post by Extralien


The thing is, over here in Morocco, the King has always decided who is innocent and who is guilty, more or less. There are tribunals, but everyone knows they are rigged. My friend's father was executed because his ideas were different - he wasn't even political - he just opened his mouth too often and talked about his travels in europe and american during a time when things were very closed and his view was making people open their minds in ways that King Hassen II didn't like. So he basically got killed for being a law-abiding, free thinker.

The current king is trying to modernize Morocco, on every level, allying himself with the west--particularly America (and this is not very known)--and there are radical reforms going on that make the old regime uncomfortable. there has been tremendous improvment in women's rights and other reforms currently in progress. so things do seem to be changing for the better here - at least on the surface.

That said, there is a subliminal war going on here where traditional islamists (referred to as Al Qaida, but that is a fictitious group) are creating lots of underground networks and movements with the intention of undermining the efforts at modernization and Western influence.

That is just my point of view. I am sure it is much more complicated than I could possibly know.

ps. As a side note, people here are fairly "apathetic" regarding politics, because there is no real political process, per se. Through a long history of take overs of various regimes and influences, the average person has learned to keep their nose to the grindstone, mind their own business, and focus on survival of their own family rather than getting involved in political intrigues that could end badly.

[edit on 1/12/07 by chutso_ha]