US 26/11 survivors not in favour of death penalty for Kasab

Posted in The Economic Times

Forgiving the convicted Pakistani terrorist, the US survivors of 26/11 terror attack today said death penalty is not a solution for Mohammed Ajmal Amir Kasab , instead he could be rehabilitated.

"Why did Kasab survive (during the attacks)? Should we just be hateful, vengeful and killing? What will that accomplish," asked Master Charles Cannon , one of the American survivors trapped inside the Oberoi Hotel with a group of 25 others.

Kasab could be rehabilitated and "awakened" to see what his choice has created, said Cannon adding, "may be, he could change his way and be a voice for the youth of the world from where he came to tell them not to emulate him."

Cannon, along with his group 24 companions, had come to Mumbai in November 2008 to attend a spiritual programme. On the fateful night, the group of the US, Australian and Canada citizens was staying in the Oberoi Hotel, when terrorists struck the hotel. Two of them were killed.

"I do not favour death penalty because, I it does not accomplish anything but breeds more hatred and violence. I am always in favour of education which can bring transformation," said Cannon, who found 'One Life Alliance Mumbai Survivors', a charitable trust.

Survivors of the same group were here to pay tributes to the martyrs and those killed in the attacks.

The 66-year-old Peggi Sturm also echoed similar views. "We should see if Kasab could be rehabilitated," she said.

The charitable trust co-founder Kia Scherr , who lost her 13-year-old daughter and her 58-year-old husband, said forgiveness makes a person very strong.

"They (terrorists) do not know what they have done. And it was not very easy for me to forget that I had lost my daughter and husband. But I want to spread the message of forgiveness," she said.

Note by the editor of this blog:
A bit more information on the Mumbai attacks taken from Wikipedia: The 2008 Mumbai attacks (often referred to as November 26th or 26/11) were more than 10 coordinated shooting and bombing attacks across Mumbai, India's largest city, by Islamic terrorists from Pakistan. The attacks, which drew widespread global condemnation, began on 26 November 2008 and lasted until 29 November, killing at least 175 people and wounding at least 308.