UK urges leniency for Pearl killer

CNN ^ | July 15 2002

[knighthawk]

LONDON, England -- The UK government says it opposes the death sentence handed down to a British-born man convicted in Pakistan for the kidnapping and murder of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl.

Former London School of Economics student Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, believed to be the mastermind of Pearl's kidnapping death, was convicted on Monday along with three other Islamic radicals of kidnapping for ransom and acts of terror, defence lawyers said.

[Prodigal Son]

Don't pretty much all Europeans oppose the death penalty?

No, it's mostly the gov'ts. I know loads of Europeans, my wife included, who favor the death penalty. It's pretty much not even a democratic issue here- it wouldn't be allowed even if 90% of people wanted it- the officially stated policy is that it is inhumane. I think it's a crock of BS.

There was a bet on another thread this morning speculating how long it would take for the EU to officially protest or ask for clemency for the killer.

[BullDog108]

Because of India, they still don't have a favorable view of the USA but they don't like the Omars of the world either.

Could you elaborate on that statement? Considering India is only recently a USA ally.

[Alouette]

They blame India and the US and Israel for everything.

[LarryLied]

Most who post there see it as Pakistan and China against India and the US. They are even talking about "mending fences" with Israel.

[BullDog108]

Okay. Thanx. They are as delusional as the rest of their Muslim cohorts.

[Phillip Augustus]

Most Europeans are in favor of it. Their governments are not.

[mikeIII]

You base all that on a website's posters' comments? What about all reports on Pakistan and Pakistanis almost on a daily basis? Believe me, we can do a lot better than Pakistan for friends! And so can Israel.

[Brytani]

Do you have any source for this? It was my understanding, though opinion can always be wrong, that the majority of people in the EU oppose the death penalty, not just the governments of those countries.

I'd appreciate any links etc you could provide me.

[Cinnamon Girl]

They ought to be ashamed of themselves. Where do they get off? Sheikh Omar lured an innocent and gentle man into a sickening kidnapping which ultimately led to the disgusting, evil, videotaped beheading by vermin savage Muslims of beloved Daniel Pearl, z"l. AND THE U.K. "OBJECTS" to Omar's hanging?????!!!!!???????

[knighthawk]

Such thoughts can only be brought to us by members of the Labor Party. They still live in denial.