No Amnesty for the Death Penalty

Amnesty International: The death penalty is the ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment. It violates the right to life. It is irrevocable and can be inflicted on the innocent. It has never been shown to deter crime more effectively than other punishments. Amnesty International works for an end to executions and the abolition of the death penalty everywhere.

Now, I also know that Amnesty fights to free prisoners "of conscience". That is, Amnesty go to bat for any person or persons imprisoned by others and held in captivity. I used to think they did a good job, but recently I came across a case where Amnesty had received a request for help, circulated the call amongst members and they are seriously considering supporting the death penalty, even though this person is innocent of any wrongdoing. Furthermore, they have suggested that all others in a similar situation should have the death penalty, if that's what their jailer decides. Here's the letter that set it off:

Dear Amnesty

I have been held captive for 3 months now in a small room with no windows and a single door. I am fed, kept warm, but nothing else. I know I am on borrowed time. Occasionally I hear discussions outside my room on if I should be killed. I have tried to get out, but all my efforts have no effect. To the best of my knowledge, I have done nothing wrong - I have remained out of politics and wouldn't presume to make any moral judgments, yet, as a human, I feel I have a right to life. Can you help me?

Signed B.

Now that letter earned a strong rebuke from Amnesty, who consider this request to be well outside their core business. In fact, following this letter, they publicly announced that they were shifting from their previous neutral stance and moving to change their mission statement and actively encourage such prisoners to be put to death at the pleasure of their captor. This was a copy of the letter that signalled Amnesty's change in direction.

Dear B.

Thanks for your letter. Let's get one thing straight. We don't give a shit. You have no right to ask us to help. You have no right to expect to live. Frankly, we are amazed you have the gall to write to us and put us in this kind of position. We are just not interested. You take what you get and if your captor wants to kill you, so be it.

You may try to make this about politics, about morals, or some grand statement about "life". That's all too esoteric for us. What we specialize in is convenience, and appropriate lifestyle choices.

Did you ever stop to think you are simply an inconvenience? Did you consider for one moment you are seriously infringing upon another person's right to happiness? Your self-centredness really makes us puke here at Amnesty. Besides, consider the resources you will waste. If we help you, there are millions more like you that would suddenly get all uppity, and want to have a life outside your miserable windowless cell. And why? Life isn't a gift or an automatic right, it is something earned.

I suppose you think you have a right to food, clothing and shelter? Well , what planet are you from? If you can't work for a living, then don't expect to live on the charity of others. We don't need crap excuses about "lack of education", "language and communication problems", "lack of opportunity" and so forth. That's just pathetic. Give us a break.

I don't know how you got this idea you could join the human race, but as far as we are concerned, you and your millions of little friends are just inconsiderate queue jumpers. Go back to where-ever you came from or do us all a favour and drop dead.

Yours Sincerely, Amnesty.

Amnesty meet in August to ratify this recommendation. The UK section and NZ recently affirmed the resolution. They really hate these dudes that much. And I thought they were against the death penalty? Guess again folks.

Amnesty to ensure all countries are allowed to kill detainees.