EU criticizes death penalty in the US after 1000th execution



Posted : Tue, 21 Jul 2009 18:29:40 GMT

Stockholm - The European Union repeated its criticism of the death
penalty in a statement Tuesday after the 1,000th execution was
carried out in the United States since capital punishment was
reinstated in 1976. The EU said it noted with "deep regret" that
Marvallous Keene was Tuesday executed by lethal injected in the state
of Ohio.

Sweden, which on July 1 assumed the rotating presidency of the 27-
nation bloc, issued the statement on behalf of the EU.

"The EU is opposed to the use of capital punishment in all cases and
under all circumstances and has consistently called for its universal
abolition," the statement said.

Capital punishment has not proved to be a deterrent, "and any
miscarriage of justice - which is inevitable in any legal system - is
irreversible. "

The EU, which has abolished the death penalty, renewed its call on US
federal and state authorities to introduce "a moratorium" on further
executions.

http://www.earthtim es.org/articles/ show/278401, eu-criticizes- death-
penalty-in-the- us-after- 1000th-execution .html

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