UAE has a unified and streamlined legal framework. It is a deep-rooted legal system that is an amalgamation of Sharia principles and civil statutes. The death penalty is also referred to as capital punishment. According to the UAE law, it is a legal punishment. Over a range of different serious, heinous, and severe crimes, the death penalty is announced as a punishment. Criminal activities such as murder, rape, espionage, terrorism, drug trafficking, apostasy, and many others are eligible for it. Capital punishments are given under the Sharia principles or Islamic law.
The capital punishments are normally sanctioned after following the law and regulations. It involves proper judicial scrutiny before sanctioning the death penalty.
In capital punishments in UAE the compliance is ensured at all times. UAE constitution has made it compulsory that the implementation and application of Islamic law (Sharia principles) must be carried out in a clear way.
UAE has been ensuring that criminal punishments must take up a fair trial before the final judgment. They have taken a sensible and dual approach towards the implementation. UAE is making dedicated efforts to create the right balance between Sharia principles and modern judicial practices. Islamic law is sharia principles are the traditional legal practices of UAE which have been followed for a very long time.
UAE takes up the proper legal safeguards for enforcement of the death penalty. However, in different parts of the world, capital punishments are either abolished or being ceased or in the removal phase. There is the abolition of such practices. UAE has taken up a blended approach and remains committed to capital punishment in the UAE for severe punishments.
However, its implementation is termed as rigorous and fanatic. Nonetheless, the use of capital punishment in the UAE sparked lots of debates and discussions because of its strict nature and it raised serious questions about morality, justice, and human rights. In modern times, the UAE has been a perfect example of creating the right approach towards traditional practices and adopting modern and latest practices to facilitate its people.
Shariah Law or Islamic law has always been the cornerstone of the UAE legal and judiciary system. Therefore, the traditional system has significant influences on the UAE and its legal framework. Islamic law offers immense platforms and avenues for forgiveness as well. In the case of murder, the concept of ‘Diya’ or Diyaat” is present. It is premeditated before the death penalty is announced.
DIYA is the concept of blood money. The family members of the victims pardon the offender in exchange for heavy compensation. In this manner, the death penalty can be avoided. However, for serious criminal activities and heinous offenses, civil and federal law advocates for the death penalty. The UAE Federal Penal Code outlines the criminal offenses that are termed as too severe and heinous. Those actions are a serious threat to the society at large.
Criminal offices like terrorism, drug trafficking, espionage, and a few of the actions that pave the way to capital punishments in the UAE. The UAE federal penal code also makes sure that the death penalty is given after a fair court trial. Therefore, the legal case goes through different levels of judicial review including the court of cassation. This is necessary to ensure fairness, justice, and accuracy.
Capital punishments are taken very seriously in the UAE. The judiciary system of the country has made it mandatory that a legal case must undergo detailed investigations and trial procedures. More often, it is also needed to corroborate with evidence, witnesses, and testimonies. The final decision and verdict that is given must be upheld by the highest courts of UAE. This is done to ensure accuracy and eliminate the chances of mistakes, blunders, or errors. Therefore, the errors in final judgments are minimized.
There are proper execution methods that are followed. Moreover, there are adequate procedures for it. For the execution the most common way is firing squad. This is a highly practiced method in the UAE. It is considered to be smooth, swift and convenient. The execution method is termed as the right combination of Islamic law and international protocols. This encourages the humane execution of capital punishment in the UAE.
Additionally, the firing squad is conducted under confidentiality and privacy. Besides, there is strict supervision under the law and the concerned law enforcement agencies of the Emirates. The scrutiny is made in the presence of judicial representatives. Before the process, the convicted individual legal case is reviewed in depth. After a thorough review takes place, the legal specification is also accounted for.
Further, the relevant authorities allow the spiritual and religious advisors and scholars to be present in the conviction. This is carried out to ensure solace to the convicted individual. There are several challenges that the UAE goes through due to capital punishment. Human rights organizations and observers keep raising questions about it. They openly criticize the use of capital punishment in the modern-day world.
Human rights concerns include the lack of transparency and accuracy in legal cases, as well as the potential for miscarriages of justice. International bodies like Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International keep urging the UAE to impose a moratorium on the death penalty. Capital punishments are given on cultural and religious grounds and have heavy support from the locals in the UAE. They believe that the practice is highly consistent with Islamic law and is considered to be the best way to maintain law and order in the country.
Still, they keep advocating for debates and discussions over better alternative methods. This will align the UAE’s traditional legal practices with evolving global standards. However, there is still room for flexibility and change in the UAE over its stance. The country believes capital punishment is the best way to uphold the rule of law, fairness, justice, and transparency for heinous offenses. The attempts and changes are made to align with the international best standards. The key aim is to balance traditionalism and modernity to allow room for innovation, diplomacy, and preservation of religious and cultural practices and norms.