Iran and Saudi Arabia are two countries in Asia that have carried out the most number of executions in the world, according to a report released on Thursday by Italian rights group, Hands Off Cain. The report also highlighted China as having the worst record in terms of the number of death penalties carried out.
"But let's focus on the US death row, shall we?"
Although the number of countries that have the death penalty has been reduced, the report said that number of people executed in 2007 increased compared to the previous year. In 2007, there were 5,851 executions carried out in the world, compared to 5,635 carried out in 2006 and 5,494 in 2005.
The report says that executions in Iran have increased by one-third, from 215 in 2006 to at least 355 in 2007. Iran is also singled out in the report for having executed 21 people by hanging in one day, while in the first 10 days of 2008, 23 people were hanged.
Also in Saudi Arabia, the number of executions have increased four-fold in a year, turning it into one of the countries with the highest number of executions per capita. At least 166 people were executed in 2007, and 39 in 2006. The report says that executions in Saudi Arabia are held in public courtyards outside well-attended mosques after Friday prayers.
Gee, it's almost like mosques aren't really places of worship as our own tradition of religion would figure.
Those executed are beheaded.
In 2007, 50 of the executions that were carried out in Saudi Arabia had to do with drug crimes.
In the Americas, the last remaining country practising the death penalty is the United States, where 42 people were executed in 2007, less than the previous year when 53 were executed.
In Europe, Belarus continues to be the only country in the continent where the death penalty is carried out.
The report by Hands Off Cain was presented on Thursday at a special ceremony attended by several Italian parliamentarians, including the vice-president of the Italian Senate, Emma Bonino, as well as ambassadors from several countries. The former Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi also received "The Abolitionist of the Year 2008" award at the ceremony. The award is given to a person who, above all others, has demonstrated an extraordinary commitment in the struggle for a moratorium on executions and the abolition of the death penalty.
Can't remember what Prodi did, but it was most probably very tranzi in style.
| And notice he's not in charge anymore ... |
President Giorgio Napolitano will open talks on Friday to resolve Italy's political crisis after Prime Minister 
By Wladimir Pantaleone