|
|
Do
not kill
Many
countries of the world still have the death penalty. They are 85. Among
the biggest countries that still have the death penalty are the United
States, China, Japan, Indonesia, Iran and many countries of Africa.
| Green |
They don't
have the death penalty |
| Rose |
They
use the death penalty only for serious crimes |
|
Yellow |
They have
the death penalty but don't apply it |
| Blue |
They
have recently abolished the death penalty,
applied moratoria or commuted capital punishment into life sentences |
| Red |
Have the
death penalty |
Some
countries apply the death penalty even for minor offences such as robbery,
tax evasion etc.
"The
Friends" movement is against the death penalty.
- No one , not even the
state, can condemn to the death penalty an other person.
Even if he or she is guilty.
- Everyone must be given
a chance to change and to become a better person especially if he or
she is guilty.
- The death penalty doesn't
do justice, it is vengeance and doesn't teach forgiveness.
- Jesus, the righteous,
forgave those who put him to death. The death penalty is a cruel and
inhuman instrument that causes terrible pain.
- There are alternative
methods to protect the society from criminals which are effective and
don't take people's lives.
- The death penalty, in
the countries where it is applied, does not reduce violence, on the
contrary, it increase it.
- Often, innocent people
were killed. Many countries of the world still have the death penalty.
- This world that too often
sentences people to death is a world without mercy and compassion.
- We can overcome evil by
good and forgiving is the first thing to do .
The
movement of "The Friends" supports the campaign of the Community
of Sant'Egidio
for the moratorium on the death penalty,
in order to stop this unjust penalty all over the world. Everybody is
invited to collect signatures.
|
We
made friends with Johnny
Paul Penry, a
42 years old disable sentenced to death in Texas. We are
in contact with him by mail and exchange of drawings.
We presented to the U.S. high court a legal declaration
in his favour called "Amicus brief" .
|
|
|
Collective
painting sent to Johnny and made by some friends of Rome
- Italy
|
It
is a legal instrument used by lawyers on appeal.
Anyone and any organization can participate in the criminal
process expressing their competent opinion.
In Johnny's case the issue is that mentally disabled people
cannot be sentenced to death because it would be a violation
both of the U.S. Constitution (8th amendment) and of the
international law.
|
|
|
