Protocol No. 6 to the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), providing for the abolition of the death penalty in peacetime, was ratified in 1998. Greece abolished the death penalty for all crimes in 2004.
In Europe, only Belarus continues to actively use capital punishment. Capital punishment has been completely abolished in all European countries except for Belarus and Russia, the latter of which has a moratorium and has not conducted an execution since 1996.
In 2022, four countries including Kazakhstan, Papua New Guinea, Sierra Leone and the Central African Republic abolished the death penalty for all crimes, bringing the total number of abolitionist countries up to 112.
MORATORIUM ON THE USE OF THE DEATH PENALTY
Australia opposes the death penalty, in all circumstances and for all people. Australia's opposition to the death penalty is a long-standing, bipartisan policy position. All jurisdictions in Australia abolished the death penalty by 1985.
In practice, China traditionally uses the firing squad as its standard method of execution. However, in recent years, China has adopted lethal injection as its sole method of execution, though execution by firing squad can still be administered.
The execution is not public, unless the Ministry of Justice determines otherwise. The last execution in Italy took place, on March 4, 1947. The Italian Constitution, into force since January 1948, completely abolished the death penalty for all common military and civil crimes during peacetime.
The use of capital punishment in Italy has been banned since 1889, with the exception of the period 1926–1947, encompassing the rule of Fascism in Italy and the early restoration of democracy.
Capital punishment is a legal penalty in Russia, but is not used due to a moratorium and no death sentences or executions have occurred since 2 August 1996.
Death for Greeks is always attached to Orthodoxy and forgiveness by God for the sins that have been committed by the deceased on earth. The experience of death may be both a family and a community event, depending on the contribution the person has offered to the public, and in general his/her status.
The Greeks used to execute people by making them drink a deadly poison called 'hemlock'. To everybody's utter surprises, Socrates took the cup of hemlock and drank it like a glass of water. At last, Socrates went calmly to death without weeping or complaining.
Capital punishment in France (French: peine de mort en France) is banned by Article 66-1 of the Constitution of the French Republic, voted as a constitutional amendment by the Congress of the French Parliament on 19 February 2007 and simply stating "No one can be sentenced to the death penalty" (French: Nul ne peut ...
Saudi Arabia has a criminal justice system based on a form of Shari'ah reflecting a particular state-sanctioned interpretation of Islam. Execution is usually carried out by beheading with a sword and hanging but may occasionally be performed by shooting or firing squad. Saudi Arabia performs public executions.
This was known as 'the brazen bull'. Made entirely of bronze and the size of a real bull, the condemned was placed inside the hollow bull via a small door at the back. A great fire would be lit underneath, and the unfortunate fellow inside would be slowly roasted alive.
It's estimated that China executes thousands of people each year - more than all other countriescombined. While many of these are for violent crimes, China currently has 46 capital offenses, including embezzlement, drug-related offenses, and robbery.
The Swiss Constitution forbids the use of the death penalty. Capital punishment was abolished in civil courts in 1942, and in military courts in 1992. No execution has been carried out since the Second World War.
India voted against it. In 2021, at the UN Human Rights Council, India also opposed a draft resolution calling for a moratorium on the death penalty. Nevertheless, the actual number of executions in India remains comparatively low. Since 2000, India has carried out just eight executions in total.
The Constitution of Norway was extensively amended in May 2014. The new article 93 in the constitution explicitly prohibits capital punishment ("Every person has the right to life.
Portugal was a pioneer in the process of abolition of capital punishment. No executions have been carried out since 1846, with the formal abolishment of capital punishment for civil crimes occurring in 1867.
As a member of the European Union, Ireland is also required under the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights to respect human rights, including the right to life, when giving effect to EU law. The Charter prohibits the use of the death penalty.
Executions are mostly carried out by a firing squad, hanging or decapitation.
The death penalty can be applied in the United Arab Emirates as a capital punishment for crimes endangering the society's safety. It is rarely carried out, however, as a panel of three judges must agree on the decision of a sentence to death and the death penalty may not be executed until it is confirmed by the U.A.E.
Iran continues to use the death penalty in violation of international law, including death sentences for crimes failing to meet the “most serious” crime threshold, the use of torture, and performing public executions.
In April 1993, capital punishment was officially abolished in Hong Kong. Since then, life imprisonment has been the most severe punishment in Hong Kong.