[Reader-list] 6th World Day Against Death Penalty In India, Delhi: A Report

[gowhar fazli]

6th World Day Against Death Penalty In India: A Report

10th October 2008

On the World Day against Death Penalty, Amnesty International India called on all citizens around the world to take action to end executions in Asia and called upon India, South Korea and Taiwan to join the global trend and establish a moratorium on the death penalty immediately. Amnesty International believes that the death penalty violates the right to life, has no deterrent effect on crime and has no place in a modern criminal justice system. Justice without death penalty is possible. 

On 10th October 2008 at 10.30 a.m. Amnesty International India observed the 6th World Day against Death Penalty through a stunt in the high security area near India Gate in front of a large crowd and impressive presence of media.  Five Amnesty members/stuntmen performed with an imposing hanging post to create a visual protest against death penalty in India. They wore black hoods and sported a noose around their necks and carried a larger than life hanging post with them. This was staged along with an interactive session on Death Penalty with the interested gatherers and media persons. This went on for a while till Police intervened and seized the hanging post, nooses and detained four Amnesty International India stuntmen at the Tilak Marg Police Station. 

AI India has launched a countrywide campaign involving a wide range of activities, including stunts, protests, seminars, film screenings, making of rangolis depicting symbols and slogans against death penalty. The activities were carried out in at least 23 places across the country. 

Earlier, in December 2007, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution, ‘Moratorium on Death Penalty’ by an overwhelming majority. This year Amnesty International India asked Asian leaders to take steps towards making this a reality. The organization has recorded at least 1252 executions in 24 countries in 2007 with at least 3347 people sentenced to death in 51 countries. 





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