Bring back the Death Penalty

Did you see the news that Hashem Abedi, a convicted terrorist serving a life sentence for his role in the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing that killed 22 people, launched a brutal attack on three prison officers at HMP Frankland, a high-security facility in County Durham?

According to the Prison Officers’ Association, Abedi threw scalding cooking oil on the officers, causing severe burns and scalds, before stabbing them with makeshift weapons, including two 20cm-long blades. The assault left the officers with life-threatening injuries, including one stabbed in the neck and another struck five times in the back. Two remain in serious condition. This horrific incident, described as a “bloodbath” by sources, underscores the persistent danger posed by individuals like Abedi and fuels the argument for reinstating the death penalty for those who demonstrate unrelenting violence and disregard for human life.

Abedi was convicted for conspiring with his brother, Salman Abedi, in the Manchester Arena bombing, a cowardly act that targeted children, teenagers, and adults leaving an Ariana Grande concert. His lack of remorse was evident as he offered no defense during his trial, and his history of violence continued in prison.

In 2020, he was convicted of a “vicious” assault on a Belmarsh prison officer, proving a pattern of aggression undeterred by incarceration. The recent attack at HMP Frankland, dubbed “Monster Mansion” for housing Britain’s most dangerous criminals, raises serious questions about the effectiveness of life imprisonment for individuals who remain committed to violence. Allowing such a person access to a kitchen, where he could weaponise boiling oil, reflects a catastrophic failure of prison security.

More broadly, I think that Abedi’s actions exemplify why capital punishment is a necessary deterrent and ultimate justice for society’s worst offenders. His role in mass murder and subsequent attacks on those tasked with his custody demonstrate an irredeemable threat. Life imprisonment, even in a high-security facility, has failed to curb his capacity for violence, as evidenced by the terrible injuries inflicted on these prison officers. The death penalty would ensure that individuals like Abedi, who show no potential for rehabilitation and continue to endanger others, are permanently removed from society. This protects not only the public but also prison staff, who face daily risks managing such volatile inmates. No amount of gnashing of teeth and wringing of liberal hands can fix this - we NEED action!

Those who oppose capital punishment will argue that it’s inhumane or risks executing the innocent, but Abedi’s guilt is indisputable, cemented by overwhelming evidence in the Manchester bombing and his ongoing violent behaviour. Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick labelled the incident a “deeply serious security failure,” but the deeper issue is the system’s total inability to neutralise threats like Abedi.

Capital punishment offers a definitive solution, sparing society the burden of housing and managing those who thrive on destruction.

The counterargument—that life sentences suffice—falls apart when inmates like Abedi exploit prison freedoms to maim or kill again. The emotional and financial toll on victims’ families, prison staff, and taxpayers is immense, with no guarantee of safety. Reinstituting the death penalty for terrorism and subsequent violent crimes would send a clear message: acts of terror and continued aggression will meet the ultimate consequence. Monsters like Abedi should face justice that matches their crimes—swift, certain, and final.

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