During a recent meeting of the European Union’s full assembly, European Parliament president Josep Borrell called on the 76 countries around the world that continue to retain the death penalty to discontinue use of capital punishment. He noted that the United States is the only democratic state that makes “widespread use” of the death penalty and that the European Union has a duty to convince Americans to end the practice.

“Most unfortunately, in the U.S. the 1000th execution was carried out. The fact that it almost coincided with Human Rights Day makes this fact particularly poignant,” Borrell told the assembly. “But there is a glimmer of hope. U.S. society is changing its views on the death penalty.” Borrell then added, “For us in Europe, the right to life is an inalienable right. No one ever loses their right to life, no matter what they have done.”

According to Amnesty International, executions were carried out in 25 nations last year. China, Iran, Vietnam and the United States accounted for 97% of all executions that took place in 2004. Capital punishment is not allowed in Europe, where no execution has been carried out since 1997.

(Associated Press, December 12, 2005) See International Death Penalty and Executions.