Cruel, Pointless: Nguyen Tuong Van’s Death
Any Australian, and indeed many others around the world, would be aware of the unfortunate plight of Australian Nguyen Tuong Van. In case my use of the words ‘unfortunate plight’ has not already made it clear, I believe Nguyen’s execution this morning at 09:00 AEDT is undeserved and inhumane.
Nguyen reportedly only entered the drug trade voluntarily to help pay debts his twin brother had accumulated from legal costs and a previous heroin addiction, but will not let his brother be blamed for his predicament. He has even banned his lawyers from ever questioning his brother over the crime (source: News.com.au). How is such a punishment commensurate to the crime committed?
Nguyen has also had the courage and dignity to remain strong for his family and friends in the face of certain death, even as they break down around him. It is a man and a family capable of such love that will be destroyed this morning, without even an opportunity for Nguyen’s mother to embrace her son one final time. How can any human being inflict such suffering on another?
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