I have been closely following news about the execution of a group of drug smugglers in Indonesia. The smugglers, two Australians, a Brazilian, four Nigerians and one Indonesian, were killed by firing squad, something that sparked international outrage. Australia even recalled its ambassador in response. This piece of news was interesting. I honestly thought that Indonesia might buckle in the face of mounting international pressure and call off the executions. However, I was surprised and glad that Indonesia carried out the execution despite international calls to cancel it. This is a purely internal domestic issue for Indonesia and as a sovereign country it has the right to do what it sees fit. I remember an interesting discussion I once had with a friend from the US who was of the view that executing drug smugglers and drug dealers was cruel. Many people in the US are against capital punishment and there is always a demonstration before an execution is to be carried out. To be honest, I have never heard of someone convicted of a drugs offense being executed in the US. They are, however, given lengthy jail sentences. This friend would often criticize the Saudi judiciary for handing the death sentence to people convicted of smuggling drugs into the Kingdom. In response, I would always say that I thank God that the Kingdom has a no-tolerance attitude to drugs. I also have zero tolerance and sympathy for people who smuggle and peddle drugs. The death sentence is the least that they deserve. I am of the view that drug smugglers are worse than terrorists as they destroy families, societies and communities. Terrorists kill a few people, whereas those who sell drugs operate in a clandestine fashion; they are like a silent cancer ruining society. A country's wealth is its people, especially the youth. Anyone who wants to destroy a nation targets its youth. Drug dealers and smugglers are constantly targeting young people. No one questions how damaging drugs are to people's minds and bodies. We quite often read about dealers being arrested and about huge shipments of hashish, heroin and pills prevented from entering the Kingdom. There are foreign powers targeting the Kingdom by trying to smuggle large quantities of drugs into the country to ruin our youth. Our police are involved in a never-ending battle. They never sleep in the fight to stop drugs from entering the Kingdom while simultaneously tackling dealers within the country. They are the silent soldiers tackling this menace with loyalty. There would be no drug addicts if there were no smugglers and dealers. Addicts are dangerous to themselves and their society. Addicts ruin their families, harm their wives and would sell their children if need be just to get the next fix. They would even kill their own parents and sell their grannies if they really needed to. There are many things addicts would do to people in society. The question remains whether drug dealers and smugglers deserve to live in light of the above. I fail to understand people who feel drug smugglers and dealers should not be handed capital sentences. That is, however, their business. Lenient punishments, in my opinion, invite drug smugglers to continue. A tough punishment, however, will make them think twice before committing a crime. If we were to ask the families of drug addicts whether they wanted the people who caused their sons and daughters to become addicted to drugs to live or die, they would—if wise—choose the latter. If we were to ask the victims of drugs which punishment was appropriate, then I am sure they would choose capital punishment because of the pain and suffering they have undergone. Governments pay millions to cure and rehabilitate drug addicts. The funds spent on this could be better spent on development. Governments that forgive drug smugglers may as well forgive terrorists who kill innocent people. In general, countries should not be blamed when they take a tough line against criminals, particularly foreign drug dealers and smugglers. These people are responsible for their own actions and should be held accountable, not the governments that deal with them in a serious fashion. If these people choose to commit a crime, then they should be ready to suffer the consequences.
— The writer can be contacted at [email protected]. Twitter: @anajeddawi_eng
