The international human rights body Amnesty International in its drive to end death penalty and issues of human rights concern has urged all countries to stop secrecy over human execution. In its latest report it shows a stiff increase execution in a number of countries where as in an encouraging result only 24 countries actually executed in 2007.
The new Amnesty report published on April 15 (Tuesday) revealed that at least 1,200 people were executed last year of which China accounts the most followed by Iran, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. Further more 3,347 people were sentenced to death in 51 countries and up to 27,500 are estimated to be on death row worldwide.
Amnesty identifies China as the leading executioner in 2007 with 470 whereas Iran executed around 317 people, Saudi Arabia -143, Pakistan-135 and United States-42. However, the actual figure could be higher as in most cases authority of several countries like China preferred to keep death penalty as a state secret.
The latest report as per amnesty is based on media reports and data obtained from several courts who ordered for capital punishment as punishment of crime. However, the increased number in countries like Iran, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan compared to their 2006 figure: 177, 39 and 82 respectively again highlights the poor human rights record of those countries and their least effort in abolishing death penalty.
Secrecy in death penalty has been further proved hindrance in monitoring the actual number of legal execution done by the authority.
"The secretive use of the death penalty must stop: the veil of secrecy surrounding the death penalty must be lifted. Many governments claim that executions take place with public support. People therefore have a right to know what is being done in their name," Amnesty International said.
During 2007, as per reports many countries carried out execution for crimes not commonly considered criminals. Giving some example Amnesty shows how a man was stoned to death for adultery and how an Egyptian national, was beheaded in Saudi Arabia for the practice of black magic.
Amnesty International is against the death penalty for any crime and is campaigning for its abolition hence it urges all government to stop awarding death penalty. Therefore, in the 2007 United Nations General Assembly the moratorium for death penalty was adopted by a record vote of 104 in favour to 54 against, with 29 abstentions.
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