Sharia?

Sharia, as you may know, is the code of Islamic law.

There is one portion of the Sharia I was particularly fond of.

As long time readers know, I am pro-death penalty in case of heinous crimes, in case of a career criminal who finally murders, and murder coincident to the commission of another crime. I am not concerned about deterrence but justice (though I have seen research that shows a deterrent effect in the last case). If you want to call it vengeance then so be it.

As we are all aware Sharia commands the death penalty. However, the sentence is only carried out with the wish of the victim's family. If the victim's family wishes to forgive the condemned then the sentence of death is commuted and the convicted serves a jail sentence and pays restitution. However, the victim's family, can insist the condemned be executed and the state carries out the sentence. It is the victim's family that can forgive. It is with the victim's family that forgiveness is truly meaningful.