COLOMBIA Man was caught trying to steal something, and instead of waiting for the authorities, his victim and a group of bystanders took matters into their own hands. They tied him up and then beat him with a metal rod, delivering what they saw as street justice.
In regions where people have little faith in law enforcement or where legal systems fail to deliver justice, acts like these are not uncommon. But while they may feel satisfying or even justified in the moment, they undermine the rule of law. Everyone – no matter their crime – deserves due process. Resorting to mob justice not only violates human rights, it also sends a dangerous message: that violence is an acceptable response to wrongdoing.
