Pardon for Alan Turing?

[Munch]

But that minor point aside, he was truly a great man who was persecuted by his government for his sexual orientation. He deserves far more than an incredibly belated pardon. He deserves a national holiday and a prominent monument in the heart of London. Let him serve as a constant reminder of the vast bigotry and hatred of gays which still afflicts those in many parts of the world.

Hear hear, and it should be as widely publicised as possible for the shame of those who perpetrate or sympathise with such bigotry today.

Is there anyone who would be against giving him a pardon? Aside from fanatical far-right wingers who hate gay people?

Only those who believe that pardons are irrelevant I suppose, such as myself. But even then it's not opposition to the act of pardoning as such, just disappointment that pardoning takes place instead of something more substantial.

 

[Cutlass]

Who issues a pardon in the UK? Queen or PM?

 

[ParadigmShifter]

The Queen or Home Secretary I think but obviously with approval by the PM.

 

[Dachs]

Accused him of heresey and put him under house arrest for years I think.

It's vastly more complicated than that.

 

[El_Machinae]

I think the pardon should happen when a dignitary is visiting one of those countries that still condemns homosexuals.

 

[Mise]

I think the pardon should happen when a dignitary is visiting one of those countries that still condemns homosexuals.

I'm not sure about that. Usually when a dignitary from those countries is visiting, there are far more important things at stake than homosexuality; jeopardising those more important things by inflaming and irritating the dignitary might not be such a good idea.

But, like most things, it depends...

 

[choxorn]

Only those who believe that pardons are irrelevant I suppose, such as myself. But even then it's not opposition to the act of pardoning as such, just disappointment that pardoning takes place instead of something more substantial.

Yes, you and several others are saying it's irrelevant or something else should be done. Which isn't really the same as being against it- The people against it would be the people who supported his prosecution in the first place. So my point still holds.

 

[innonimatu]

Accused him of heresey and put him under house arrest for years I think.

I guess that unlike the UK judiciary with Turing, which prosecuted him when it was obvious that the law was even then deeply hypocrite, the process against Galileo at least did made sense under the circumstances of his time.