ISLAMIC LAW AND THE MOVEMENT FOR THE ABOLITION OF DEATH PENALTY: A COMPARATIVE PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

The adverse effects of the 2nd World War led to the international call for the
universalisation of democracy and respect for human rights. Human rights and civil
society groups singled out death penalty as cruel and inhuman practise which the
member states of the United Nations were still practicing. There has been a political
global trend rather than social, religious and economic that calls for the abolition of
the death penalty. This drive has been inconsiderate of the different diversities that
are prevalent within the indiviudal states most especially the Muslim World that it
could not be implemented without trespassing on Islamic law. There is need for
mutual cooperation between the retentionists and abolitionists countries in their
areas of convergence and respect for each other‟s‟ beliefs in their areas of
divergence. This paper therefore analyses the international move to have the world
free of death penalty in relation to the teachings of Islam.