Australian Channel "SBS", referring to Amnesty International data, notes that last year 21 was executed in the 682 country, that there are more people on 2 than in the previous year. At the same time, in 2012, the number of people sentenced to death decreased by 10% - to 1722 people (in 58 countries). In 2011, 1923 was sentenced to death in 63 countries.
The material notes a significant decrease in the number of executions compared to their number a decade ago.
However, the figures do not include thousands of people who, according to Amnesty International, were executed in the People's Republic of China: there such indicators are a state secret.
Each year, the same countries are on the list of Amnesty International. Eight countries stand out where the largest number of executions take place. In 2012, this eight, writes SBS, includes:
1. China. This state has classified the number of death penalty. Amnesty International, relying on reliable sources, on the information of human rights organizations, estimates the total number of executions in the Celestial Kingdom to more than a thousand: that is, more people are executed in the PRC than in the rest of the world combined. The death penalty in the PRC is used for crimes related to drugs, as well as for economic crimes.
2. In 2012, Iran ranked second in the world in the number of executions. Mostly executed there for drug related crimes. It is also noted that in June last year, four people were executed in the Islamic Republic of Iran for such a "crime" as "hostility to God and corruption on the ground." The death penalty was applied to those people who were guilty of "adultery", "sodomy" and a religious crime, called "apostasy".
3. Iraq has almost doubled the number of executions compared to the previous year.
4. Saudi Arabia often executes people publicly through decapitation. Lawyers are rarely accused here (even formally) and may be detained for several weeks on the basis of “confessions” obtained under torture. Crimes of capital punishment in Saudi Arabia include “witchcraft” and robbery in “aggravated” form.
According to SBS, Iran, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia cumulatively accounted for three quarters of confirmed executions in 2012.
5. USA. In this state, Connecticut became the 17 state abolished the death penalty. This was due to concerns about the discriminatory use of the death penalty, as well as the likelihood of erroneous sentences.
6. In Yemen, two people were executed for crimes committed by them before 18 years.
7. North Korea. In this state, executions are carried out both publicly and secretly. Death sentences can be imposed for crimes that are not punishable by death under North Korean law.
8. Sudan is reportedly using the death penalty as a means against real or alleged opposition activists.
To summarize The top three “leaders” in the number of executions in 2012 include China, Iran and Iraq, the latter almost doubling the number of executions compared to the previous year. The fifth largest number of executions in the world is the United States. The total number of executions worldwide in the last decade has decreased.
Observed and translated by Oleg Chuvakin
- especially for topwar.ru
- especially for topwar.ru