In 2017, 993 cases of the death penalty were documented in the world - still a very high number. But still this figure is 4 percent lower than in 2016. Then, according to the international human rights organization Amnesty International (AI), 100 death penalty cases were recorded.
Is the decrease in the number of executions carried out by 4 per cent a global trend? Amnesty International expert Oluvatozin Popoola, studying the issue of the use of the death penalty, cites the following data: in three countries - Iran, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan - despite the fact that they continue to lead the number of executions, their number in 2017 decreased less. Thus, in Iran, where protests and demonstrations took place last year, 11 per cent fewer death sentences were recorded. In Pakistan - by 31 percent.
The reasons that led to a decrease in the number of executions in all countries are different. "In Iran, for example, we are talking about the reform of justice, which affects the criminal law applied in cases of drug-related crimes," the expert said in a conversation with a correspondent of DW. It is more difficult to explain this trend in Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. Clearly, only one thing: after the maximum number of executions was fixed in 2016, in 2017 it decreased, says AI expert. And it points to a 20 percent reduction in the use of capital punishment in Egypt. Meanwhile, the number of death sentences in this country has increased (402). In this indicator, Egypt is between Nigeria (621) and Bangladesh (more than 273).
At the same time, Amnesty International emphasizes that its data are not final and may change. After all, we are talking about minimum figures, indicating that when there is no doubt about the use of the death penalty. But we must proceed from the fact that in some countries the figures that are not disclosed are completely different, much higher. According to AI, in 2017, the death penalty was used in 23 countries around the world.
In the report for 2017 there is almost no data on China. The use of the death penalty in this country can not be traced and analyzed, the authors of the report write at the very beginning. China continues to lead the list of countries where the death penalty remains. "But the true scale of the use of the death penalty in this country remains unknown, because the data on this are classified as secret. The number of executions worldwide - 993 cases - does not take into account the thousands of death sentences that are likely to be carried out in China, "reads the report.
If we put it outside the brackets of the PRC, then 4 countries remain in focus: Iran (507), Saudi Arabia (146), Iraq (125) and Pakistan (60). Here, according to Amnesty International, 84 percent of all death penalty cases are recorded.
In Iraq, the death penalty is a punishment for the act of terrorism, says Oluvatozin Popoil: "After the attacks by armed men, among whom were IG fighters, the state massively applied the death penalty. In September 2017, dozens of people were executed after suicide attacks ".
The only country in Europe and the post-Soviet space where the death penalty is used is Belarus. According to AI, in 2016 there were carried out 4 death sentences. In 2017, according to human rights activists, there were two cases of the death penalty. At the same time, Belarusian courts issued 5 death sentences. At present, six people in Belarus are awaiting execution of sentences.
And the only country in the American continent where the death penalty is applied is the United States. according to AI, in 2017 in the United States were executed 23 people and 41 death sentences were imposed. Meanwhile, in some countries in the last year the number of executed persons decreased. Among such countries are Bahrain, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan.
Amnesty International experts talk about positive changes in the situation with the use of the death penalty in some African countries. Thus, in Guinea this measure of punishment was abolished. Her example will soon be followed by the Gambia, which now undertook to introduce a moratorium on the death penalty. This region, says Oluvatozin Popoil, is now the key in the situation with the use of the death penalty around the world.
On a global scale, we can speak of a reduction in the number of death sentences. According to the AI, if in 2016 more than 3100 death sentences were handed down, in 2017 - about 2600 death sentences. But it should not be forgotten that, according to the international organization, about 22,000 convicts are on death row. In this indicator, Pakistan (7000), the USA (2724) and Sri Lanka (2717) are leading..
In his annual report to Amnesty International quotes the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres: "The use of the death penalty only to a small extent can help the victims or prevent crime". In fact, there is no strong evidence that the death penalty intimidates criminals more than other means of punishment, says Amnesty International expert Oluvatozin Popoola.
"This can be seen in the case of countries that abolished the death penalty, such as Canada. There, the number of murders committed in 2016 was half as much as in 1976 - when the death penalty was abolished in this country, "points out Popolo. According to AI, after in 2017 the death penalty was abolished in Guinea and Mongolia, already in 142 countries of the world no longer apply this type of punishment.
It is necessary to influence the fact that the number of death penalty cases in countries where it has not yet been abolished decreased, the expert AI. He suggests the following steps: "In countries where the death penalty has not yet been abolished, it is necessary to introduce an official moratorium on its application".
In addition, it is possible to replace the death penalty with life imprisonment and transfer convicts from death row to ordinary prisons. Or, according to the expert, it is necessary to declare that the preconditions for the use of the death penalty are no longer valid and are contrary to internationally recognized human rights.
In general, AI experts estimate the data for 2017 as encouraging: "Important changes show that the world has reached a point where everywhere this extremely monstrous, highly inhuman and degrading punishment can be abolished".
Source: DW.