The president of the Community of Sant'Egidio, Professor Marco Impagliazzo, expressed his deepest appreciation for the position taken against the death penalty by Nahdlatul Ulama, one of the largest independent Islamic organizations in the world, which is based in Indonesia and represents more than 30 million people.

"Nahdlatul Ulama - said Impagliazzo - stated publicly that the death penalty contradicts the values of human rights, and joins the battle of the Community of Sant'Egidio for a moratorium on death sentences. I willingly express my appreciation for this important position that significantly widens the front of those calling for the abandonment of this inhumane and cruel practice".

"The struggle for a world without the death penalty goes beyond the political, religious and cultural boundaries, and the strong 'no' that comes from the Islamic world today encourages all of us - president Impagliazzo added remembering the next appointment at the United Nations General Assembly that will vote on the moratorium next autumn. "Executions - said Marco Impagliazzo - are the easy answer to the fears of an insecure world; while the best response to the insecurity of our time is peace".

Rome, 24 June 2014