Execution, be it of criminals or of leaders in the world, have always been a controversial subject. They have had sparked debate and controversy or were sometimes an occasion to rejoice for the people. With the latest execution of Bangladesh’s opposition leader and chief of its main Islamist party ‘Jamaat-e-Islam’ Motiur Rahman Nizami, another controversial execution occurred that is foreseen to evoke tension in the Muslim-majority country. Nizami was convicted for brutal atrocities against people who were agitating against Pakistan for freedom during the 1971 independence war with Pakistan. Though, the execution was just, but it coming after years of his killing string was already a subject of opposition in Bangladesh and now his execution can disturb the internal peace there. Through this article, we have clubbed together some infamous executions of all time were indeed controversial.
Saddam Hussain
Known as the “Butcher of Baghdad”, Saddam Hussain’s eviction was controversial like his reign of Iraq’s fifth President. During his rule, he had created enough terror in Iraq and middle-east for his heinous spree of murdering and executing his own countrymen due to a fear of losing power and a possible uprising. The horrendous murder stint continued until his downfall and capture by US in 2003. When the Iraqi interim government had put Saddam through a trial, he was found guilty and charged for executing about 150 Iraqis in 1982 and thus received a death sentence, which was too less for his crimes. It was indeed a moment of celebration for Iraq whose people were saved from the clutches of this cruel dictator.
Afzal Guru
The hanging of Afzal Guru, the prime accuse in the Indian Parliament attack in 2001, has stirred an unending spree of controversies, which still is facing repercussions in India in the form of student protest and has been a subject of evoking tension across the country. Afzal Guru was secretly hanged by the Indian government on 3rd February 2013 and buried in Delhi’s Tihar jail. His execution method has been debated upon as neither his parents nor media were informed about it and also was against the jurisdiction of India. The recent JNU student protest and associated controversy and arrest is the result of Afzal Guru’s infamous execution, who is considered as Martyr in Kashmir.
Nicolae Ceausescu
Nicolae Ceausescu was the President of Romania, whose execution was celebrated with a firing squad. Ruling Romania for about two decades as the leader of Communist party, Nicole Ceausescu’s crimes knew no bounds after becoming the president of communist Romania. In the process of uplifting the standards of living, he dragged Romania down into the shadows of poverty. Ceausescu’s threat to threatened to bulldoze rural settlements comprising of less than 2,000 people for construction of large agro-industrial centers, had led to a wave of panic throughout the country. In his domestic rule, he also scrutinized his citizens and conducted violent vengeance against those who opposed him. He lost power in the popular revolt of people headed by the army in 1989.
On December 25, same year, in a less than an hour long show trial, Ceausescu and his wife Elena were convicted for genocide and other crimes. Also, the execution took place shortly after their conviction and was celebrated by people.
Mary Surratt
Mary Surratt was the first woman executed in the history of the United States. Mary Surratt played a pivotal role her in the conspiracy that led to the assassination of the first President of USA, Abraham Lincoln. Though John Wilkes Booth was the person who actually killed the president, it was Mary and other conspirers who had designed the successful conspiracy. Hence, even today her execution attracts debate of whether her hanging was just and if a prison sentence could have been a suitable choice?
Ted Bundy
Ted Bundy execution is another infamous execution in the world. Ted Bundy was America’s most cruel serial killer whose killings were no less than a movie story. He would to kidnap young attractive women, rape them and then would strangle them to death. Sometimes he would even return to their corpse to further sexually abuse them. Being a law student and having worked with a police and aspiring crime writer, Bundy was an expert in his crime. During the period of 1974 to 1978, Bundy kidnapped, raped and murdered countless women though official convicted for 30. He had made the police and investigators crazy as they were unable to trace him as he had a reputation of a clean-cut law student. Bundy’s crimes are brutal enough to make anyone’s skin crawl. Bundy was finally caught in 1978 and then executed in 1989 in the electric chair in Florida. His execution was indeed a celebration for young women who feared being killed at the hands of this charming serial killer.
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