THE WORLD is moving closer to abolition of the death penalty, according to figures published to coincide with yesterday's World Day Against the Death Penalty.
Five countries are responsible for almost all the state executions carried out in the past year.
So far, 137 countries have abolished the death penalty in law or practice, while 60 retain its use, usually for people convicted of murder.
At least 1,252 people were known to have been executed in 24 countries in 2007. In that year, 88 per cent of the executions took place in China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and the US.
In Europe, only Belarus retains capital punishment. Abandonment of the death penalty is a prerequisite for joining the EU.
In seven states the death penalty is applied for consensual sexual acts between adults of the same sex, while Iran retains it for a large number of offences, among them "cursing the Prophet" and adultery. - ( Guardian service)