death penalty news April 5, 2005
GLOBAL: Death penalty figures: Your reaction Nearly 4,000 people were executed worldwide in 2004 - the highest number in nearly ten years, say Amnesty International. The human rights group found that China carried out more executions than all other countries combined - at least 3,400. Iran came second, with at least 159, followed by Vietnam. The US were fourth in the table with 59 executions in 2004. The 3,797 executions in 2004 are said to be the second-largest annual total in the last 25 years. Amnesty's UK director Kate Allen desribed the figures as "alarming". What is your reaction to the figures released by Amnesty International? Send us your comments. ------ The following comments reflect the balance of opinion we have received so far: I cannot understand why Americans can accept their nation continually appearing alongside, and often higher up the list, than the so-called "axis-of-evil" countries on human rights issues. So much for the land of the free. Iain Farquharson, UK --- The death penalty should be outlawed. Our government has proven time and time again that it is far too incompetent on relatively minor issues to be given such authority. Don Wildauer, Phoenixville, PA, USA --- I'm an American that thinks the death penalty should be reserved for very specific, patently obvious cases. Reasonable doubt isn't nearly enough. However, I'm amazed that the few responses so far have been targeted at the US. I'm not a math major but it looks like the newest member of the "civilized" world (economy) is about 58 times more out of control. Where's the outrage there? Scott C., CA - now Newbury --- These are horrendous figures, and are more appalling when one considers that not all executions are reported. Killing someone because they have killed is a futile waste of life. Gandhi said that if everyone took an eye for an eye then we would all end up blind. Countries which use the death penalty are morally bankrupt. Mark, London --- Already the US bashing commences, while people herald the coming of China as a superpower. Of course, don't let the fact that China executes fifty times as many people as the US stop you. At least in the US they had due process. If you don't want to be executed, simply refrain from murdering people while in my country. Victor, USA --- These numbers are hard to accept, however I am against the death penalty. Such violent criminals should be sent to hard labor camps instead and live out the rest of their lives in pain. George, US --- The death penalty solves nothing. It is not a deterrent to crime since no one ever thinks of the penalty when committing a crime. Larry Vance, Connecticut, USA --- Why do I know that although the US only carry out 1.4% of the world's executions they'll receive 99% of the criticism? This merely shows that China can do what it wants, when it wants & no-one will even speak up against them, much less try and change things. Peter, Nottingham --- Answer to Peter, Nottingham: China receives less criticism as compared to the US, because China doesn't claim its model is "the best" and does not try to force it onto the rest of the world. Pavel, Bulgaria --- This is a ridiculously high number. Especially in "civilized" North America. If the death penalty is to remain, then its application should be when the verdict is that the individual is guilty beyond ALL doubt, not just beyond reasonable doubt. Too many innocent people have been executed by the state. A. Geue, Ottawa, Canada --- To say these figures are truly shocking is an understatement. I cannot understand how America, the land of the free, those who want to 'cultivate a culture of life' can possibly defend their position on the death penalty. Heledd, Cardiff, Wales --- The more people we have to kill, the weaker we are. George Waldman, Detroit, USA --- Not enough! More hardened serial law breakers should accept the same fate, instead of the tax payer funding them in hotel style prisons with top of the range amenities. Britain should follow suit! Jason, London (source: BBC website)
