CAPITAL PUNISHMENTCAPITAL PUNISHMENT

Current cases of Capital Current cases of Capital Punishment in the World & Punishment in the World &

Country Study: the U.S.Country Study: the U.S.

Methods and CountriesMethods and Countries

Beheading: Beheading: Saudi Arabia and Iraq.Saudi Arabia and Iraq.

Electric chair:Electric chair: U.S. only. U.S. only.

Hanging:Hanging: Egypt, Iran, Japan, Jordan, Egypt, Iran, Japan, Jordan, Pakistan, Singapore and some others.Pakistan, Singapore and some others.

Poison gas:Poison gas: U.S. though has been U.S. though has been replaced by Lethal injection. replaced by Lethal injection.

Methods and CountriesMethods and Countries

Lethal injection:Lethal injection: This method is This method is used in China, Guatemala, used in China, Guatemala, Philippines, Thailand, and the U.S.Philippines, Thailand, and the U.S.

Stoning:Stoning: Used in North Afghanistan Used in North Afghanistan and Iran.and Iran.

Firing squad: Firing squad: United Arab Emirates United Arab Emirates (though last in U.S. on 1996).(though last in U.S. on 1996).

Countries that have executed Countries that have executed people during 2007:people during 2007:

Countries with 25 or more executions: Iraq Countries with 25 or more executions: Iraq (29), Iran (265), Pakistan (29), Saudi (29), Iran (265), Pakistan (29), Saudi Arabia (156), USA (42). Arabia (156), USA (42).

Countries with 2 to 25 executions: Countries with 2 to 25 executions: Afghanistan (15), Bangladesh (6), China Afghanistan (15), Bangladesh (6), China (13), Japan (9), North Korea (8), Singapore (13), Japan (9), North Korea (8), Singapore (2), Somalia (3), Sudan (2), Syria (5), (2), Somalia (3), Sudan (2), Syria (5), Yemen (7). Yemen (7).

Countries with 1 execution: Belarus, Countries with 1 execution: Belarus, Botswana, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Kuwait.Botswana, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Kuwait.

Quality of DataQuality of Data

Unfortunately the quality of this data Unfortunately the quality of this data is poor because most of the countries is poor because most of the countries that execute people are dictatorships that execute people are dictatorships with few human rights; their with few human rights; their governments frequently do not governments frequently do not release complete data (from our release complete data (from our point of view).point of view).

Country Study: the U.S.Country Study: the U.S.

BlueBlue states have no death penalty statute. states have no death penalty statute.Yellow-greenYellow-green states have a death penalty statute but have not executed anyone states have a death penalty statute but have not executed anyone

since 1976.since 1976.Reddish-orangeReddish-orange states have executed people since 1976. states have executed people since 1976.

Death Penalty Statistics 2008 2007 1999Executions* 37 42 98New Inmates Under Death Sentence** 111 115 284Death Row population (as of Jan. 1)^ 3,309 3,350 3,549

Percentage of executions by region:South (35 executions) 95% 86% 75%Midwest (2) 5% 12% 12%West (0) 3% 2% 12%Northeast (0) 0% 0% 1%TEXAS (18) 49% 62% 36%

Public Support for Death Penalty (Gallup Poll)64% 69% 71%

Executions Since 1976 1136Texas 423

Virginia 102Oklahoma 88

Case Study: Saddam HusseinCase Study: Saddam Hussein Saddam Hussein: Saddam Hussein:

The president of Iraq The president of Iraq from 1979-2003.from 1979-2003.

He was hung on the He was hung on the 3030thth December 2006. December 2006. This was the first This was the first day of the Muslim day of the Muslim Eid-Ul-Adha. Eid-Ul-Adha. Executing Saddam Executing Saddam on this day is like on this day is like executing someone executing someone on Christmas day in on Christmas day in a Christian country.a Christian country.

Victims of Saddam Hussein's poison gas attack on Halabja, March 1988

Saddam was responsible for the torture and deaths of hundreds of thousands Iraqi people.

Kurds in Iran face death by government Kurds in Iran face death by government firing squads firing squads

Saddam Hussein was convicted of crimes against humanity and sentenced to death by hanging.

The former Iraqi leader was convicted over the killing of 148 people in the mainly Shia town of Dujail following an assassination attempt on him in 1982.

Saddam Hussein in court as the verdict was being read

What arguments can you think of What arguments can you think of against executing people?against executing people?

Supporters of Saddam protest over his hanging.

VALUE

OF

HUMAN

LIFE

Teach that killing is wrong by killing?

Inhuman

e?

Cruel?

What arguments can you think of that What arguments can you think of that support executions?support executions?

Saddam being prepared for his hanging.

The

victims

families

will feel

better!?

He will never re-offend.

Just

ice

Revenge