In 2001 Kwame Kilpatrick was elected mayor of Detroit, and Michiganders were hopeful for the first time in a long time. It soon became clear that accusations of corruption and abuse of power, which followed Kilpatrick during his years in office, were true. And Michiganders were disappointed almost beyond repair.
In 2008, former Mayor Kilpatrick was charged with eight felony counts. Prior to these charges his 'text message scandal' affair with a female staff member was also exposed to the public. Detroit was disgusted.
According to NPR, the former Mayor has been sentenced to the extent of the law, receiving one and a half to five years in a state prison. The NPR commentator stated that it is remarkable that the judge sentenced Kilpatrick to a prison and not to a jail even after the ex-mayor pleaded "to go home". The judge was unrelenting. And many Detroiters seem to believe the judge was quite just in his sentencing.
For Muslims there is the belief in 99 Names or Attributes of God which are mentioned in the Holy Quran. One of those attributes is Al-aDl or The Most Just. There is also Ar-Rahman and Ar-Raheem, commonly quoted together, which mean The Most Merciful and The Most Compassionate.
Do you think the judge demonstrated justice or mercy or compassion toward Kwame Kilpatrick -a father and a man that begged not to be sent to jail- in his courtroom today? Share your thoughts below.
Ex-mayor of Detroit's plea and sentencing. Freep.com
