Part 20
By Hijaz Tamim
The Potential Positive Effects of Paying Ransom
Few subjects in the domains of law, ethics, and security generate as much debate as the question of paying ransom. While widely condemned, this practice is at times viewed as a necessary and immediate means of saving lives and defusing crises. It often arises in situations where abduction poses an imminent threat to life or the risk of irreparable harm. Although most governments and international organizations publicly discourage ransom payments, numerous real-world cases demonstrate that such actions have, on occasion, preserved lives, reduced violence, and brought solace to distressed families.
Perhaps the most evident advantage of paying ransom is its effectiveness in securing the prompt release of hostages. In many abduction cases, each passing hour carries the weight of life and death. When demands are met quickly, kidnappers are often compelled to free their captives, drastically reducing the risk of murder or physical injury. Such outcomes not only safeguard human life but also deliver immediate relief to families enduring profound fear and uncertainty.
For the relatives of abductees, the psychological burden is immense. Prolonged anxiety, sleeplessness, and despair erode their mental and emotional stability. The possibility of release through ransom can offer a rare glimmer of hope, easing mental anguish and allowing families to envision a return to normal life. In this sense, ransom payment is sometimes seen as an affirmation of human dignity. The money becomes a means to preserve life rather than to assign it material value, underscoring the principle that no financial measure can truly capture the worth of a human being.
Ransom payments may also serve a practical role in preventing the escalation of violence. When negotiations falter and the crisis edges toward military intervention or armed confrontation, the likelihood of civilian casualties increases sharply. A timely ransom can de-escalate such tensions, resolving the standoff through dialogue rather than destruction. It can also avert desperate measures by hostages themselves, such as attempts to escape or resist, which might otherwise end in tragedy.
Beyond individual cases, ransom payments can influence broader humanitarian and diplomatic efforts. Kidnapping incidents often cross national borders and reverberate through diplomatic channels, human rights frameworks, and foreign aid policies. When the safe release of a captive is achieved through payment, it can sometimes foster cooperation and goodwill between nations, reinforcing the spirit of humanitarian engagement.
On the political front, ransom payments can temporarily ease the pressures that kidnappings impose on governments. Abductions are frequently exploited as instruments of coercion, designed to embarrass or destabilize authorities. In such contexts, paying ransom may help reduce immediate tensions, giving states the breathing room needed to pursue long-term security and political solutions. Conversely, when these crises are resolved through violence or rigid posturing, they can sow the seeds of lasting hostility. In certain cases, ransom payments have prevented such outcomes by enabling short-term compromise through negotiation rather than conflict.
The economic and social dimensions of ransom should not be overlooked either. Prolonged kidnappings inflict severe financial and psychological losses on victims’ families, including loss of income and employment and mounting medical and legal expenses. Swift resolution through ransom can limit these damages, allowing families to recover stability and reestablish normalcy.
At a community level, ransom payments can even help restore fragile public trust. In regions where kidnapping has become common, citizens often lose confidence in state institutions and security forces. When captives are released swiftly, that confidence can, in some cases, be rekindled, promoting social cohesion and a renewed sense of safety.
In conclusion, while ransom payments carry undeniable legal, moral, and security drawbacks, their humanitarian dimension cannot be entirely dismissed. In rare and exceptional circumstances, paying ransom may represent the only viable means of preserving life, calming crises, and protecting human dignity. Nonetheless, it should never be seen as a permanent or sustainable solution. It must remain a measure of last resort, used only in emergencies and accompanied by broader strategies aimed at addressing the roots of kidnapping and violence.