European Parliament's delegation for relations with Iran is planning to pay a five-day visit to Tehran at the end of this month. The request for this...

Has the level of informed debate in this country really fallen so low? Are we, as a nation, so driven by thoughts of revenge that we can't think through the consequences of irrational decision making?

The rope tempts us to think of simple solutions to complicated questions of crime and punishment. Let it also bring us to a discussion of better ways to reform, punish and protect.

The 'common sense' narrative on capital punishment may appeal to the visceral sense of revenge and 'justice' that naturally resides in most people, but the pragmatic truth is that it is an impractical and dangerous step backwards.