Why do they...

[bazwillrun]

call these executions when they are nothing less than acts of murder committed by lawless scum

http://www.guardian.c...n-video?newsfeed=true

[Gromit]

A hostage having his head chopped off and body riddled with machine gun fire fits the description of an execution. It goes without saying it is murder.

[bazwillrun]

On that basis the media could also call it an untimely death

[DTCwordfan]

Oh no, baz, surely it is only a "small set-back in Anglo-Pakistani international relations"

[jackthehat]

You can murder people without executing them.......you can't execute people with murdering them.

Execution usually is carried out after a pronouncement by some sort of 'court', rather than simply being the whim of an individual.

[jake-the-peg]

//you can't execute people with murdering them. //


Really? I doubt the US would agree

Murder is by definition against the law - whether an execution is murder or not rather depends on the legal status of those doing the executing

[jake-the-peg]

Should have re read that Jack - not quite sure whether you were trying to say what I thought you were trying to say or not!

[AB Editor]

It's interesting how labels are applied. For example, I heard a R4 news report last week (or maybe the week before) which described Syrian protesters as "activists" at 6.00am, but they'd become "rebels" by 8.00am!

It is an execution, execution being "untimely death" by law. It just happens that they law they're using isn't one we approve of, or the law of the land. I think it's just a perception/perspective question really.

[sp1814]

bazwillrun

Execution carries with it, the idea of a formalised or ritual slaying. The word 'murder' carries with it, other connotations, as does 'assassination' and 'genocide'

Using the correct term adds shade and colour to the story one is trying to put across.

[bazwillrun]

The problem is that the media by using the term execution rather than murder, tries to give it a veil of legitimacy, when it couldnt be further from the truth.

Saddam was executed, the Nazis at Nuremburg were executed , this medic was murdered, simple as.

[sp1814]

bazwillrun

I see what you're saying, but for me 'execution' doesn't carry the weight of justice on it's side. Yes, I agree that when (say) Aileen Wournos (America's first female serieal killer) was put to death, she was 'executed' rather than 'murdered', but I think where you have people killed specifically for political ends, it should be referred to as 'execution' rather than 'murder', which I think actually downplays the seriousness of the act.

But like I say - I get where you're coming from...but the don't agree with your conclusion.

[sp1814]

By the way - you'll probably notice in the weeks to come, Khalil Dale will be referred to as the murdered[i aid worker, rather than the [i]executed] aid worker.

I know...it doesn't make any sense, but that's what I've notived before.

[Gromit]

I agree with sp.

Someone being executed does not give it a veil of legitimacy. The reverse. An execution is far more horrible and sinister than an everyday murder.

[Zeuhl]

The term 'execution' doesn't necessarily mean legitimacy though baz may infer that.

It does have connotations of ritual, formality, planning - which can make it even more sinister.

For example, don't the media sometimes distinguish certain killings as 'gangland executions'?

[AB Editor]

The term 'execution' doesn't necessarily mean legitimacy though baz may infer that.

To me, it suggests an assumed legitimacy of the executioner. They're doing it in the name of god, or the letter of the law. Because I believe in neither god nor their law the whole thing seems much more sinister.

[friedgreentomato]

mur·der   /ˈmɜrdər/ Show Spelled[mur-der] Show IPA
noun
1. Law . the killing of another human being under conditions specifically covered in law. In the U.S., special statutory definitions include murder committed with malice aforethought, characterized by deliberation or premeditation or occurring during the commission of another serious crime, as robbery or arson (first-degree murder), and murder by intent but without deliberation or premeditation (second-degree murder).

ex·e·cu·tion   
noun

4. the process of performing a judgment or sentence of a court: The judge stayed execution of the sentence pending appeal

[rojash]

If you google "mafi execution", you'll get around 24,000 results. I don't think many people infer that death by mafia has any kind of legal legitimacy.

[baza]

according to my newspaper the scum did the deed because the ransom was not paid, they must be out of pocket now when you think of the price of bullets.this lawless rabble should be hunted down and quickly.

[Zeuhl]

One thing we can probably all agree on:

Khalil Dale and his family probably don't care too much about the semantics

[jake-the-peg]

Yes I see you've selected the 4'th definition of execution. you didn't like number 3 then?

the infliction of capital punishment or, formerly, of any legal punishment.


I'd take issue with that you can after all have an extra-judicial execution.

Typically used to refer to state sponsored killings.

Usualy done in cold blood - unlike say the killings of all those Iranian nuclear scientists recently - so those would be assassinations rather than executions

[anotheoldgit]

In this case I would have thought it would be classed an execution, since the victim was kidnapped (and don't start by saying "no he wasn't he was captured") anyway they got hold of him and then threatened to 'execute' him unless a ransom was paid.

Doubt they would have used the words 'threatened to murder him'.