Religion News Blog » Death Penalty

Saudi woman executed for ‘witchcraft and sorcery’

Religion News Blog — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 01:24:23 +0000

A Saudi woman has been executed for practising "witchcraft and sorcery", the country's interior ministry says.

Amnesty International says the charge of sorcery has often been used in Saudi Arabia to punish people, generally after unfair trials, for exercising their right to freedom of speech or religion.

Protests planned worldwide against execution of Iranian woman

Religion News Blog — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 14:23:32 +0000

Hundreds of protesters will gather worldwide Saturday to rally against the imprisonment and possible execution of an Iranian woman convicted of adultery.

The case of Sakineh Mohammedie Ashtiani has drawn international attention. She was convicted of adultery in 2006 and faces the possibility of execution.

Ashtiani was originally sentenced to death by stoning, but it was put on hold earlier this month after an international outcry.

Despite the sentencing delay, human rights activists want to remind the world of Ashtiani's plight, said Mina Ahadi, chairman of the International Committee Against Execution and Stoning, one of the groups leading Saturday's protests.

"The fact is, the execution can still happen," Ahadi said. "And, often times in Iran, these types of executions will happen without any notice."

Earlier this month, Ashtiani's lawyer, Mohammad Mostafaei, told CNN that she confessed to the crime after being subjected to 99 lashes.

She later recanted the confession and has denied wrongdoing, he said.

Most civilized countries view the death penalty as a barbaric practice and a violation of human right.

California: Field Poll finds 70% support death penalty

Religion News Blog — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 07:05:19 +0000

Wild West 'ethics' persist: Californians maintain their solid support for the death penalty as a punishment for serious crimes, but are divided on whether they would impose a death sentence or life without parole for first-degree murder, according to a Field Poll being released today.

The survey of registered voters found 70 percent backing for capital punishment, up from 67 percent in the last statewide poll in 2006. Substantial majorities supported it, regardless of age, gender, race, religion or party. Twenty-four percent opposed the death penalty and 6 percent had no opinion.

But when a smaller number of voters were asked which sentence they preferred for a first-degree murderer, 42 percent said life in prison without parole and 41 percent said death. Another 13 percent said it would depend on the circumstances, and 4 percent had no opinion.

The last time the Field Poll asked that question, in 2000, it found that 44 percent chose the death penalty and 37 percent favored life without parole.

Victim’s sister hopes to make death penalty personal for senators

Religion News Blog — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 11:34:06 +0000

"If there's anyone that should die of the death penalty, it would be Michael Ryan," Kelle said, "but I don't feel that we have the right to say who should live or die."

Satanist case may close death row

Religion News Blog — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 06:33:46 +0000

Nearly 15 years ago, the brutal murder of three Arkansas Cub Scouts in an alleged satanic rite sickened a nation and strengthened the hand of death penalty champions across the United States. Now the same ghastly crime may be the final nail in the coffin of capital punishment in an America that is manifesting a crisis of conscience over the morality of executions.

New Jersey Moves to End Its Death Penalty

Religion News Blog — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 16:55:07 +0000

New Jersey joins the civilized world: The New Jersey General Assembly approved a bill eliminating capital punishment on Thursday, clearing the way for Gov. Jon S. Corzine to sign the measure as early as Monday.

Misgivings raised as U.S. prepares to speed death penalty appeals

Religion News Blog — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 21:13:28 +0000

Since capital punishment was reinstated in the United States three decades ago, 124 people awaiting execution have been exonerated. For some prisoners, the appeals process provided time to prove their innocence. Now a move by the government to speed up appeals has alarmed death penalty opponents, and even some supporters, who worry that innocent people could be put to death.

Religion, Culture Behind Texas Execution Tally

Religion News Blog — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 09:20:43 +0000

Texas will almost certainly hit the grim total of 400 executions this month, far ahead of any other state, testament to the influence of the state's conservative evangelical Christians and its cultural mix of Old South and Wild West.

PLoS Medicine editorial: Lethal Injection Is Not Humane

Religion News Blog — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 11:48:56 +0000

How to reconcile the needs of a society given to vengeance but outwardly abhorrent of cruelty or violence, trusting of medical science's trappings but indifferent to their use in killing, expecting the highest ethics of its physicians but willing to medicalize the execution chamber?

Executed in US may be awake as they suffocate

Religion News Blog — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 11:34:37 +0000

Research reveals some people executed by lethal injection in the US regain consciousness while they are dying.