Executions on the Rise Around the World: Only 10% of countries carried out executions last year, but those employing the death penalty are doing so at an alarming rate, a new report says. According to Amnesty International's annual review of death sentences and executions, the number of countries using capital punishment in 2011 was 20, a decrease of more than a third compared to 10 years ago.
Some 18,750 people faced death sentences at the end of 2011, while at least 676 people were executed across the world, the report said. It claimed thousands of people were executed in China in 2011, more than the rest of the world put together. The rights group says it has stopped publishing figures it collects from public sources in China, as "these are likely to grossly underestimate the true number." Chinese authorities could not be immediately reached for comment.
The number of executions carried out around the world jumped last year, largely due to a surge in use of the death penalty in Iran, Iraq and Saudi Arabia, Amnesty International said on Tuesday. The rights group said at least 676 people were executed in 20 countries in 2011 compared with 527 executions in 23 countries in 2010, a 28 percent increase. Confirmed executions in the Middle East rose by almost 50 percent last year to 558, it said in an annual report on the death penalty. Methods of execution used around the world included beheading, hanging, lethal injection and shooting.
In 2011 we reported that in 2010 executions were down. At that time China, Iran, North Korea, Yemen, and the United States led the world in carrying out the most death sentences. Amnesty International: Death penalty on decline, US in top 5 That's quite the company to be proud of isn't it?
While we're on the subject of Democracy I wonder why Bush didn't mention Saudi Arabia's nasty habit of be-headings when he was over there begging for more oil? I know Democracies can be different but that doesn't sound Democratic to me! Saudi authorities beheaded an Indonesian maid convicted of killing her employer, the Interior Ministry announced. In a statement carried by the official Saudi Press Agency, the ministry said the maid used a pillow to suffocate her employer Aisha Al Makhaled and then stole her jewelry in the southern province of Asir.
Saudi Arabia follows a strict interpretation of Islam under which those convicted of murder, drug trafficking, rape and armed robbery are executed in public with a sword. The maid was the second person to be executed that year in the desert kingdom, according to an Associated Press count. ** Saudi Arabia beheaded 137 people last year (2008), up sharply from the 38 in 2006. That's a great move towards Democracy isn't it? Saudi Arabia's Beheading Culture - CBS News
Man in the middle east they seem to enjoy putting people to death. In the link above you see they often video tape be-headings and they shrug off the be-headings saying it is humane and less painful than other methods. Most of the deaths were attributed to 4 countries, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Iran and North Africa. Think about this. When you look at what is going on around the world and certainly North Africa and the middle east, the number of 676 people being executed is laughable.
It must be semantics! I know it is not often hangings or be-headings but what do they call the thousand killed in Africa due too border, tribal, or religious differences? What about Afghanistan where Taliban killings of civilians is a common occurrence? What about Libya? What about Syria and the 10000 civilians that we know about slaughtered "executed" by their Government?
I am sure the numbers in every one of these countries would be increased exponentially if the truth was told. I am sure we are talking hundreds of thousands not 676. Amnesty does not use China's numbers because they are a lie, you can just imagine. Last year we were talking about executions going down. This year we are talking of an increase. I am afraid we should be saying they are sky rocketing and there does not appear to be anything we can do about it. I am also convinced as you may be, that the numbers will rise drastically as conditions in the middle east continue to degenerate as they will.
James Joiner
Gardner, Ma
http://anaverageamericanpatriot.blogspot.com
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