There wide support for David Hick's [an Australian...

There wide support for David Hick's [an Australian captured fighting with the Taliban] execution.
Ayasser Soliman, president of the Islamic Council "If he was fighting and he was aware and he was fighting to try to protect terrorists, that's not on. If he is part of a terrorist group, he needs to be accountable for his action. Yes (I agree) with the death penalty if there is no doubt and he has killed innocent civilians, but we have to find out the facts first."
Bruce Ruxton, president of the RSL [Returned and Services League] "If he's fired a shot at Australians, he should be hanged for treason. No questions asked. It's like that American, (John) Walker - the electric chair for him.
"There's always these sort of people about, but I just don't understand it. What would he get out of aligning himself with those people?"
Dr Farooq Mirranay, president of the Afghan Welfare Association "I think it is better first to investigate him for if he is really involved with al-Qaeda. But if he has killed innocent people they have to kill him.
"Islam says which one has killed the people must be killed himself."
Noel Mcnamara, Crime Victims Support Association president "I have no sympathy for him. If he is prepared to live by the sword, he should be prepared to be tried by the sword. It's all very well to have religious beliefs, but to be a traitor to your country, well, he deserves the death penalty."
Murray Burles, Victorian State Secretary, Rats of Tobruk "In my personal opinion, if you make your bed, you sleep in it. As far as I am concerned, if he is a renegade or a mercenary and he is caught, he should pay the penalty and if that's death, so be it."
Chris Maxwell QC, Liberty Victoria "We don't comment on particular cases but it is fair to say Liberty is categorically opposed to the death penalty.
"It is fundamentally important that the political support in the past 25 years for this position must continue."
John Corcoron, president of the Law Institute of Victoria "The Law Institute has opposed the death penalty for all crimes. What does the death penalty achieve? It has been shown elsewhere not to be a deterrent."