EU parliament takes US to task over death penalty

The Times of India ^ | January 30 2003 | AP

[knighthawk]

BRUSSELS: The European Parliament criticized the human rights record of the United States on Thursday, demanding it drop the death penalty and live up to international human rights standards in dealing with prisoners held on terrorism charges.

The European Union assembly voiced its concern on a slew of human rights issues in several nations and wants it to figure prominently at the UN session of the Commission on Human Rights in Geneva, which starts March 17.

In a resolution, the 626-member parliament called for the United States, Iran, China, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Congo and others to introduce moratoriums on executions "with a view to completely abolishing the death penalty."

The EU parliament praised the decision by former Illinois Governor George Ryan who commuted the sentences of 167 death row inmates just before he left office earlier this month.

It also condemned the use of stoning and torture "notably as practiced in Iran, Saudi Arabia, Sudan and some states of Nigeria."

The parliament also pointed directly at the situation of hundreds of prisoners still held by U.S. authorities at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

In an amendment that passed 269 to 224 votes, the EU assembly called on the United States to "ensure that (the prisoners') basic safeguards are respected" and asked Washington to "immediately clarify" the status of those being held there or those transferred to other parts of the United States. It also urged Washington to "finally respect international law" in their status as prisoners of war.

The parliament also demanded that the UN commission pay attention to continuing human rights problems in Tibet, Chechnya, Saudi Arabia, Iran, North Korea, several countries in Africa, and the Palestinian territories.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

c) Notify their victim's families of their whereabouts so that justice can be pursued in a more discrete manner

And that is why there will always be a death penalty. There are certain crimes for which death is the only justice.

If the state won't do it the families will.

[Citizen of the Savage Nation]

The Eurotossers keep on thinking they are the 'world' and have the right to define what is appropriate culture and behavior for everybody. The Australians are still peeved that the EU-backed UN human rights commission labeled them the most racist nation.

[knighthawk]

As I am surrounded by them, I can confirm it.

They always are whining about the US having the death penalty. They are whining about American culture taking over theirs.

And the EU should first look how racist they are. Half of them are anti-Semites.

[dfwgator]

FU EU!

[Citizen of the Savage Nation]

What gets me is the religious approach...do they even know that God prescribed the death penalty for even adultery??

[goldstategop]

I think we need to step up executions of terrorists. Dispose of them without trial and we won't have to worry about meeting the Eurotrash's elevated standards of justice.