INDEX

The Jordan-based Amman Centre for Human Rights has released its second annual report on the status of the death penalty in Arab countries. The report gives both an overview of the region and a detailed look at each Arab state.

After the Supreme Court re-opened the possibility of lethal injections, executions are scheduled to resume in the US on May 6, starting with William E. Lynd (photo) in Georgia. TCADP International chairperson Sandrine Ageorges denounces an “inhumane” process.

Democratic Republic of Congo abolitionists have been leading a non-stop fight for two years to have the death penalty recognised as incompatible with their country’s constitution. Ongoing penal code reform is giving them a chance to defend their case.

On 27 March, a US federal appeals court overturned Mumia Abu-Jamal’s death sentence, but not his conviction for murder. His lead counsel Robert R. Bryan gives his reaction to the ruling and the next steps in America’s most high-profile capital case.

The report of the Paris World Congress, organised by Together Against the Death Penalty with the help of the World Coalition in Paris in 2007, is just out. Its aim is to serve as a “guide to abolitionist strategy”.

The World Coalition Against the Death Penalty calls on President Mahmoud Abbas to declare an official moratorium on the death penalty and not to ratify Mr Tha’er Rmailat’s death sentence.

The World Coalition condemns the April 16th decision of the United States Supreme Court upholding the lethal injection as a humane method of executing a human being.

Amnesty International’s early figures for last year show that China tops the executioners’ list, although secrecy surrounds the real death penalty statistics in many countries.

The World Coalition condemns the acceleration of executions in Japan andt the continued secrecy surrounding them.

French organisation Together Against the Death Penalty seized the opportunity of the Olympic Torch relay in Paris to highlight China’s world record when it comes to executions.