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.
I guarantee you that there have been a lot more than 1000 executions in Europe.
Wait until the war on terror is over... then we'll talk.
Tell it to the Jews.
Unless they're an inconvenient pregnancy.
Yeah, you're right - locking people in cages for 80+ years is so much more humane than a quick, painless execution.
"Give me liberty (read Freedom) or give me death." Patrick Henry of Virginia
I think the EU should give sanctuary to all receivers of the death penalty. I would love to see how they feel with a few dozen Tookies raping and murdering their way across the continent.
Memo to the EU:
F#*k off!
Tell it to the Jews.
Tell it to the unborn.
Just don't ask us to stop abortions, putting convicted multiple murders to death is wrong, but killing an innocent life is fine by us.
Unless you choose to help someone die (by, I dunno, administering a lethal injection of sodium pentathol) because they are in pain. In that case you aren't an executioner, you are (somehow) actually respecting the right to life.
I am against the death penalty, but I see abortion and euthenasia as no more than a extension of the death penalty, except at least those on death row receive a trial and numerous appeals.
Kiss my ass, Josep. I guess the slicing and hacking off of innocent people's heads by filthy Moos is considered "cultural diversity" to this asshole.
Now that's odd, I just recently called for the end of the EU. Go figure.
My problem with the death penalty is I don't like the idea of the US government deciding who gets to die and who gets to live. This is the ultimate government interference. This parallels my view on taxes. I don't like the idea of the US government deciding who gets my tax money. That said, the EU needs to mind their own business.
What if Islamic countries call EU to stop abortion?
"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."
No abortion in the EU countries?
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