Posted on 12/12/2005 1:17:50 PM PST by Simmy2.5
STRASBOURG, France - European Parliament president Josep Borrell called on the 76 countries still allowing the death penalty to respect the right to life and end the practice of capital punishment.
Borrell said the United States is the only democratic state that makes "widespread use" of the death penalty and the EU has a duty to convince the Americans to abolish it.
"Most unfortunately, in the U.S. the 1000th execution was carried out. The fact that it almost coincided with Human Rights Day makes this fact particularly poignant," Borrell told the EU assembly. "Luckily the death penalty is disappearing throughout the world, but the number of executions carried out is still excessively high."
In 2004, according to the human rights group Amnesty International, executions were carried out in 25 nations. In that year, 97 percent of all executions were performed in just four countries: China, Iran, Vietnam and the U.S.
"But there is a glimmer of hope. U.S. society is changing its views on the death penalty," Borrell said.
Capital punishment is not allowed in Europe, where no execution has been carried out since 1997. Various European institutions have pledged to fight for a "death-penalty-free" zone outside the continent.
"For us in Europe, the right to life is an inalienable right. No one ever loses their right to life, no matter what they have done." Borrell said.
It's not the U.S. government that decides who gets the death penalty. It's a jury composed of twelve ordinary citizens.
Sanctuary in Europe, that is a great idea. We like OUR WAY, you EUs.
Would that it were so simple.
The decision not to kill can be more deadly than the decision to kill.
How many convicted murderers commit murder again after release or escape, or while in prison? I wonder how their victims & families of the victims would feel about the death penalty?
So you're against the death penalty. What do you think would have been the appropriate punishment for Adolf Eichmann? 17 years like John Walker Lindh? 4 years like the Bali bombers? 10 minutes in the corner to think about what he's done?
When people tell me my stand isn't compassionate, I tell them that my compassion is for all the innocent human beings who have been murdered, not for the criminals who killed them.
See tagline.
More preposterous words never spoken!
They're saying, "Do as we say, not do as we do."
If it's only up to the jury, why was the governor involved? (rhetorical question)
I thought EU believe in cultural-sensitivity? It's not sensitive, you know, to tell all other countries to stop death penalty. You start to sound like Americans...
Would Europe be willing to accept all US death-row inmates as a compromise?
It isn't a theory..The burden of proof is all on the prosecution to prove their case. The defense does not have to do anything but make the prosecution prove its case before a jury. The jury must also vote on the death penalty..No judge hands down a death sentence on his own in the US any longer.It is up to the jury to vote to impose..
Yep, I am against the death penalty. That being said, I think the Gubanator upheld the law.
I am against the death penalty because I think it is too easy on the criminals, takes up too many resources in endless appeals and just serves as a cause celebre for stupic celebrities who probably wouldn't know Mumia Abu Jamal from a mummy.
Europe just never learns their lesson....
The governor has the power to either stop or not stop a death sentence that a jury has decided on. He has no power to sentence anyone to death on his own.
Put 'em up!
Meaning no matter what heinous crimes anyone has done, no matter what evil they have committed, their life is guaranteed. What a message to send to the criminal element, Josep.
Shut the flipping hell up.
Regards, Ivan
I love it when Europe lectures us on morals.It reminds me of how lucky *I* am that my ancestors were driven out of Europe by war,famine and oppression.
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