IT USUALLY doesn’t take long after a high-profile murder in our country for someone to issue a call for ‘reintroduction of the death penalty’.
When emotions are running high, it’s almost understandable. But it’s a terrible mistake.
Our new report on the death penalty shows how in nearly every country where they still apply capital punishment, trials are grossly unfair, defendants are often mistreated in detention, and legal representation is shockingly poor.
In the USA, defence lawyers have fallen asleep during murder trials. In Iran, defendants have been condemned to death after 10-minute hearings, and in China, where torture is rife, they execute thousands of prisoners but keep the actual numbers a state secret.
At least 1,634 people were executed last year, mostly in China, Iran, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. This is not a club Britain should be rushing to re-join.
Stroud News & Journal readers can find out more about our report and how to support Amnesty’s campaign to abolish the death penalty at: amnesty.org.uk/deathpenalty.
Amnesty International, Mid Glos Group Stroud
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