Join us for TADP-05, “Islam and the Death Penalty”,  June’s contribution to the Zoom series “Towards the Abolition of the Death Penalty” (TADP).  Hosted by the incredible and widely-respected journalist Samira Mohyeddin.

In this session:

Islamic jurisprudence is divided on the question of the abolition of the death penalty. Some Shia scholars argue that capital punishment must be abolished in the absence of an Infallible Imam. Some Sunni thinkers also maintain that the death penalty is against Maslahah Mursalah (Public Interest). However, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Indonesia, among others, continue to use the death penalty as a punitive measure against perpetrators of different crimes, e.g. drug trafficking, corruption on earth, sedition, and murder. This session introduces and explores Islamic Jurisprudence’s perspectives on the death penalty and evaluates the possibility of abolishing the death penalty in different contexts.

This event features incredible and thought-provoking insights from:

Shole Pakravan, social activist

Sedigheh, Islam studies scholar, University of Tehran

Sarmad Ali, director, Legal awareness Watch Pakistan

This event is moderated by the great journalist and producer Samira Mohyeddin, journalism fellow, Women and Gender Studies Institute, University of Toronto

“Towards the Abolition of the Death Penalty” is a panel discussion series on Zoom that aims to provide in-depth discussions on the death penalty from diverse legal, philosophical, sociological, psychological, and political perspectives. The speakers address and put in context current instances of the death penalty, exploring the dynamics involved in this criminal sanction. The series aims to create a dialogical platform for everyone interested in engaging with the abolitionist discourse to discuss the possibilities and challenges to put an end to the death penalty.

The series is offered in a joint partnership between the Paivand Society, the Canadian International Council (Saskatoon Branch), Amnesty International Canada, Carleton University’s Youth and Justice Lab, the Human Rights Research and Education Centre (University of Ottawa), and the Mardom Foundation, as a year-long monthly discussion beginning in February 2025 and concluding in December 2025.