Death penalty alive in many countries
Despite disappointing setbacks in 2012, the global trend toward ending the death penalty continued, Amnesty International reports in its annual review of death sentences and executions.
Last year saw the resumption of executions in several countries that had not used the death penalty in some time, notably India, Japan, Pakistan and Gambia, as well as an alarming escalation in executions in Iraq.
At least 682 executions were known to have been carried out worldwide in 2012, two more than in 2011.
But these figures do not include the thousands of executions that Amnesty International believes were carried out in China, where the numbers are kept secret.
“The regression we saw in some countries this year was disappointing, but it does not reverse the worldwide trend against using the death penalty. In many parts of the world, executions are becoming a thing of the past,” said Salil Shetty, secretary-general of Amnesty International.
“Only one in 10 countries in the world carries out executions. Their leaders should ask themselves why they are still applying a cruel and inhumane punishment that the rest of the world is leaving behind.”
The top five countries in the world in terms of number of executions were once again China, Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and the US, with Yemen close behind.
Execution methods included hanging, beheading, firing squad and lethal injection. In Saudi Arabia, the body of one man executed through beheading was displayed in what is known as “crucifixion”.
People faced the death penalty for a range of crimes including non-violent drug-related and economic offences, but also for “apostasy”, “blasphemy” and “adultery” – acts Amnesty contends should not be considered crimes at all.
One argument frequently deployed by proponents of the death penalty is that it acts as a deterrent against crime. However, a study last year in the US concluded that the deterrence argument should not be put forward to justify the use of the death penalty.
“The real reason for the death penalty’s use can often be found elsewhere. In 2012, we were once again very concerned to see countries executing for what appeared to be political purposes – either as a populist measure, or as an outright tool of repression,” Shetty said.
