Frankly, I thought long and hard before choosing this title. I was worried it might be considered an “extreme interpretation.” After all, discrimination based on race and religion is a serious crime in America. Especially when discussing a case that ends in execution, you’d need very strong evidence to make such a claim.
However, after seeing a post by U.S. Congresswoman Cori Bush on X (formerly Twitter), I realized I wasn’t alone in my thinking. Cori Bush harshly criticized the governor who approved the execution, stating, “We must definitively abolish this flawed, racist, and inhumane practice.”
Now, let’s get into the tragic details of the case.
The incident in question took place in 1998 in St. Louis. Social worker Lisha Gayle was stabbed 43 times and murdered in her home, and her valuables were stolen. A black American named Marcellus Williams was arrested and, after a controversial trial, sentenced to death.
However, there was no evidence linking Williams to the murder weapon or the crime scene. Moreover, DNA samples collected from the scene years later did not match Williams. St. Louis District Attorney Wesley Bell pointed out that Williams’ fingerprints were not found on the knife used in the murder and requested that the conviction be overturned. But the efforts of Williams’ attorneys and the local prosecutor were not enough.
Missouri Governor Mike Parson rejected Williams’ clemency request. In the court ruling that refused to overturn the conviction, it was stated, “The evidence does not point to the presence of an alternative perpetrator, nor does it rule out Williams as the killer!” In other words, they effectively said, “There’s a chance Williams might not be the killer, but we are still deciding in favor of execution.”
It’s unbelievable, but that’s how the decision went. Despite prosecutors indicating he might be innocent, the black imam Williams was executed by lethal injection, a method used for the first time.
Williams, who converted to Islam in prison and even led prayers as an imam, will be talked about for a long time. Because thousands of people, including the victim’s family, signed petitions calling for the execution to be halted.
Muslim organizations launched a petition campaign. But all efforts proved futile. When Williams was asked for his final words before the execution, he said, “Praise be to Allah in all circumstances.”
After the execution, a heated debate over the death penalty began. According to the Death Penalty Information Center, known for its work across the U.S., at least 21 people have been executed since the death penalty was reinstated in 1972, despite “strong and convincing” claims of innocence.
Marcellus Williams is one of them. His case and execution will undoubtedly be discussed for a long time and likely inspire films and books.
But one undeniable fact remains: Marcellus Williams is no longer alive. Even if irrefutable evidence of his innocence were to emerge tomorrow, it would no longer matter.
I bring this case to your attention because, from time to time, the death penalty debate flares up in Turkey. In fact, after the brutal murder of Narin Güran, many people, including some politicians, launched a campaign saying, “Bring back the death penalty!” To them, those who commit such crimes should be executed immediately.
This demand is as frightening as the murder of Narin Güran itself.
Because we are all aware of the state of Turkey’s judiciary. As Perinçek puts it, the judiciary has become “a dog of politics.” In such a system, it’s inevitable that anyone who opposes the regime will be sentenced to death. Or the scandals in evidence collection, interrogation, and trials are so significant that no one trusts investigations or prosecutions anymore.
In short, to those calling for the death penalty, let me remind you: the death penalty is an irreversible path. There’s no way to correct a mistake. So, stop making dangerous statements like that and defend the rule of law.
To return to the case of Marcellus Williams, executed yesterday in Missouri:
Everyone following this case has the same question in their minds: Would Marcellus have been treated the same if he hadn’t been black and Muslim?
The fact that hundreds of thousands of people are pondering the same question is a disgrace for today’s America.
