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.
Naw, the stupid appeals take up too much time and money. The death penalty, if enforced, would not do that.
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