Death penalty for pedophiles, Trump prepares the U.S. for “some war,” and no “red card” for Israel – Weekend

A few days ago, the tragedy of a teenage girl in Kyrgyzstan, who was raped, killed, and dumped in a field, continued to shock the region. This is because President Sadyr Japarov is now considering responding to the incident by reintroducing the death penalty.

The United States appears to be preparing for a war. However, only Donald Trump and those in his administration seem to know who this war will be fought against.

Double standards are showing their ugliest face in the example of Israel. No one dares to exclude the country from international sports competitions, including football tournaments.

Read about the major events and developments around the world over the past week in QALAMPIR.UZ’s Weekend program.

“Israel’s bloodstains on the green fields”

The world is undoubtedly tired of double standards, which have become the “new normal” of our era. Terms like international law and global order have almost lost their meaning, as their place in foreign policy and humanity’s collective conscience has largely vanished. This reality is most clearly visible in Israel’s case. As football legend Eric Cantona once noted, just four days after Russia invaded Ukraine, FIFA and UEFA began efforts to ban Russia from international sports competitions. Yet it has been not four days but two years since Israel began committing one of the century’s most horrific genocides in Gaza, and those same organizations have done nothing against the state orchestrating some of the most inhumane massacres of the 21st century. The same two hypocritical organizations that tried to pressure Russia geopolitically through suspension now claim they “cannot influence international political processes” when it comes to Israel. Only a handful of elected leaders are even attempting to take action, but even they have not been able to punish Israel through football or other sports.

Among the first and most vocal critics of Israel’s genocide — and likely to be remembered positively in history for it — is Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who called for Israel to be banned from international sports competitions. Spanish MP Patxi López also announced that if Israel’s national team advances from the ongoing qualifying stage, Spain may boycott the 2026 World Cup. This was a serious signal, as it is impossible to imagine the tournament without Spain, a country that currently tops the global football rankings. However, the location of the next World Cup could complicate matters. Moreover, because the International Criminal Court has rightfully issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu — resulting in U.S. sanctions — FIFA and UEFA may fear similar punitive measures.

As expected, the United States and its ultra-pro-Israel leadership have intervened in the situation. The Trump administration reportedly opposed efforts to ban Israel from the World Cup. According to Sky News, the White House tried to prevent FIFA from suspending Israel from international football tournaments and to guarantee Israel’s participation in the 2026 World Cup. Sources say the U.S. State Department was tasked with blocking any sports sanctions against its “stronghold” in the Middle East. As a result, justice was delayed. UEFA was forced to postpone its decision on banning Israel’s national teams and clubs from international competitions.

However, whether Israel participates in sports events is no longer the main issue. What truly matters is how billions of fans worldwide are reacting to matches involving Israeli clubs and the national team. Their sentiment itself shows that the name “Israel” is increasingly unwanted and rejected. Everything is ultimately decided by the fans, and one can understand the broader picture simply by observing the atmosphere at matches involving Israeli teams. The rejection is clear — even without banners reading “Red card for Israel,” fans are making their stance known. Even Pep Guardiola, widely regarded as modern football’s most successful coach, has become one of the faces of the “Free Palestine” movement. On October 4, he called on Spanish citizens to join a protest in Barcelona’s Jardines de Gracia square against the genocide in Gaza. Soon, the protests in Catalonia grew in scale.

“We are witnessing a genocide in which thousands of children have already died, and many more may die. The Gaza Strip has been destroyed, and crowds of people are left without food, drinking water, or medicine. Only organized civil society can save lives and force governments to act decisively, once and for all. On October 4, let us fill the streets of Jardines de Gracia and demand an end to the genocide,” Guardiola urged.

This was not the first time Guardiola spoke out. Earlier, in June of this year, after receiving an honorary degree from the University of Manchester, he gave a speech about the suffering in Gaza that surprised many.

The U.S. is preparing for a war

At the beginning of last week, the United States gathered all its generals and admirals in one place. The emergency meeting, held in Quantico, Virginia, opened with warnings of growing global threats and calls for America to be ready for war under any circumstances as its rivals unite. Donald Trump and Pete Hegseth, the head of the institution now renamed the Department of War, delivered the main speeches. Interestingly, retired General Ben Hodges described the meeting on social media as “July 1935.” In response, Hegseth commented, “Great story, General.”

For context, in July 1935, German generals were suddenly summoned to Berlin and told that their previous oaths to the Weimar Constitution were invalid, and they must swear a new personal oath of loyalty to Adolf Hitler. Most complied to keep their positions, and a few years later, they helped launch some of the most horrific atrocities in human history.

Hodges was alluding to that story, and Hegseth’s sarcastic reply did little to dismiss the parallels. The meeting convened by the Trump administration bore striking similarities to Hitler’s forced oath of loyalty. U.S. Army generals and Navy admirals were compelled to listen to a 45-minute speech by Hegseth and then a one-hour speech by Trump, hinting that major changes were coming. From remarks that “obese generals and admirals” would no longer be tolerated to a green light for racism, the tone was alarming. Hegseth announced an end to race-based appointment quotas and the elimination of mechanisms that allow service members to report rights violations. For example, if a Black soldier faces racial discrimination, their complaint will likely no longer be accepted or properly addressed. Under Trump, the system for handling not only racial discrimination but also sexual assault and other abuses will be paralyzed. This confirms previous criticisms of Trump as racist and hostile toward Black Americans were not mere accusations.

As for how Hegseth’s controversial and often ridiculous speech was received, the generals did not even bother to applaud. Hegseth paused several times, apparently expecting applause, but the hall remained silent. Trump, who spoke next, joked that he had “never seen such a silent group of people.” He repeatedly pushed conspiracy theories about “internal enemies” attacking the U.S. from within, claiming that “America is under invasion from the inside.”

“We are under attack from within. They are no different from a foreign enemy, but in many ways, they are more dangerous because they do not wear uniforms. If they did, you could remove them from the streets,” Trump said.

Trump was likely referring to Americans protesting against his policies. Since returning to the White House, he has deployed troops to several states and given security forces a blank check to use force. Just days ago, he sent 200 National Guard troops to Portland, Oregon, with orders to “use full force if necessary.” His speech, like Hegseth’s, was met with cold silence from the generals. He paused several times, seemingly expecting laughter or applause, but none came.

As retired General Hodges pointed out, this does not mean Trump and Hegseth’s dangerous orders will be ignored. The generals received a clear signal to make their forces “whiter” and were instructed that their future missions would focus heavily on suppressing domestic dissent. Most notably, they now face a choice: follow these orders to keep their positions or resign in protest. But it is highly likely that most will choose the first option — just as their predecessors once swore loyalty to Hitler.

Japarov proposes reinstating the death penalty

In Kyrgyzstan, a case of sexual violence followed by murder may lead to the reinstatement of the death penalty. For a week now, social media users in Central Asia have been outraged by the tragic story of 17-year-old Oysuluv Mukasheva from Issyk-Kul, who was abducted, raped, brutally murdered, and dumped in a field on September 27. Reports say that on that day, she left her home in the village of Barskoon, telling her family she was going to visit a friend in the town of Karakol, and then disappeared. Surveillance footage showed her walking along a roadside. Her body was later found in the Jal-Arik area near a ravine, and it was confirmed that she had been raped and killed. According to Kyrgyz media, the crime occurred around 1:00 p.m. in an apple orchard near the “Azamat” beach in the village of Jenish.

Footage suggests Oysuluv got into a passing car, and a 41-year-old driver has been detained as a suspect. Her body was buried in her home village on September 30. The incident sparked outrage and widespread debate on social media. But Oysuluv’s death was not just another tragic event — it could trigger a tectonic shift in Kyrgyz legislation. President Sadyr Japarov reacted strongly, proposing the reintroduction of the death penalty for serious crimes against women and children.

This is not an entirely new idea. In 2022, amid rising cases of violence against minors, several Kyrgyz lawmakers also proposed legislation to reintroduce the death penalty. There was even discussion of holding a referendum on the issue. However, some experts and lawmakers opposed the initiative, citing the lack of fairness and independence in Kyrgyzstan’s judicial system and warning that innocent people could be executed. Deputy Prime Minister Edil Baisalov also opposed the bill, stating at the time that “the government will firmly defend the Constitution against such emotional initiatives.” It is worth noting that the death penalty Japarov seeks to restore is constitutionally banned nationwide. The last execution in Kyrgyzstan took place in 1998. Between 1991 and 1998, executions were carried out by firing squad. According to the Criminal Code, executions were not public, and families were only notified afterward. Bodies were not returned, and burial sites remained undisclosed.

In later years, the death penalty remained in Kyrgyz law but was not enforced. In 2007, then-President Kurmanbek Bakiyev signed amendments to the Criminal Code replacing the death penalty with life imprisonment. In 2010, Kyrgyzstan ratified the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, committing to abolishing the death penalty completely. Since then, the harshest punishment in the country, as in other states in the region, has been life imprisonment. Overall, between 2007 and 2010, Central Asia saw a broader trend of abolishing the death penalty, with Uzbekistan also abandoning it during that period.

When it comes to legally ending a human life, every detail requires careful evidence, as any mistake could have tragic consequences. Human rights activist Ozod Juraboev, speaking to QALAMPIR.UZ, said the issue of reinstating the death penalty must be assessed from the perspectives of humanism, international norms, and the practical effectiveness of crime prevention. He emphasized that the best way to achieve justice is not through harsher punishment but by ensuring the inevitability of punishment. According to him, reintroducing the death penalty is an unacceptable step for several fundamental reasons.

“Japarov’s proposal is a political response to the public outrage caused by Mukasheva’s death. However, states should be guided by principles and systemic resilience, not populism. Reinstating the death penalty is not a step forward but a retreat into the past,” Juraboev said.

However, Japarov’s proposal to introduce the death penalty for those who commit sexual violence against minors complicates matters further. To curb the scourge of pedophilia, states are often forced to impose severe punishments, ranging from chemical castration to life imprisonment. While the death penalty is indeed a severe and controversial measure, the brutal rape and murder of young girls is a heinous crime that no sane mind can accept.