“Islamic Interpretations of Mercy vs. International Human Rights Standards on Death Penalty”

Abstract

This study examines the debate on the death penalty through the Islamic jurisprudence and international human rights discussion. Islamic law allows for capital punishment under strict conditions. It also emphasizes mercy, forgiveness, and reconciliation through the concepts of Qisas and Diyat. On the other hand, international human rights standards increasingly favor for the abolition of the death penalty press the right to life and human dignity. The aim of this research is to explore how interpretations of mercy within Islam can provide alternatives to strict punishment and how these interpretations align or various from modern humanitarian perspectives. The research uses a qualitative doctrinal approach focusing on the analysis of Islamic legal texts classical interpretations case examples from Muslim societies and relevant international human rights documents. By comparing Islamic principles with international standard, the study identifies both points of convergence such as emphasis on protecting human dignity and points of divergence such as the legitimacy of punishment in specific cases. The findings suggest that integrating Islamic principles of mercy into judicial practices may reduce reliance on executions promote reconciliation between communities and strengthen a more humane justice system. However, the study also highlights challenges in implementation due to cultural, political and legal variations across Muslim majority states.