I think there needs to be a detailed thread on the death penalty/castration. Firstly, if the victim ever made it public that she wants a death penalty or castration, I will never be the person to oppose her decision. I don’t give a shit about the rapist. However, (1)

My support for the victim’s wishes does not mean that I am not anti-capital punishment and physical torture. For anyone.
The issues is bigger than one man, I don’t care if he lives or dies. I care about the institutionalisation of the death penalty (2)

I don’t trust the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to wield the death penalty responsibly. I don’t trust the public of this country to rally behind the death penalty responsibly. You’ll push it next for “crimes” of a much lesser immorality. I don’t need to say the B word. (3)

What I do trust is data that has time and time again established that the death penalty is an appeasement measure. A shortcut. It is not a stronger deterrent than life in prison. Please do your research here. (4)

Lastly and more importantly, I want to highlight a victim-centric concern. Since the hanging of the Jyoti Singh rapists in the 2012 Delhi gang rape, an equally horrific gang rape of Dr. Priyanka Reddy took place in India. Except this time they killed and burnt her (5)

Rapists will not want their victims alive so that they can be identified in court and given the death penalty. Please think about this. Please. (6)

Lastly, Pakistan lifted its moratorium on the death penalty after APS and was used for Zainab’s rapist, and I beg you to show me otherwise that despite the hanging, not a day goes by without a rape or honour killing of a woman. (7)

I will continue to look way beyond out-dated punishments that do not end rape culture but gives the rot a cosmetic dressing. I want constant engagement. Policy reform. Curriculum design. Social work. A thriving feminist community and discourse (8)