The death penalty is a punishment that is currently used in 68 countries. It is most widely used in Asia and Africa. However, it is also still used by 38 US states.
Currently, the most commonly used methods of the death penalty are:
- execution;
- the gallows;
- injection incompatible with life;
- electric chair;
- deprivation of the head;
- hammering with stones;
- gas chamber.
The death penalty is one of the punishments for criminal offenses of particular gravity, which involves the deprivation of a person's life.
Where did the death penalty come from and why did some countries abolish it?
The death penalty is one of the oldest punishments. It was born from the Talion principle - "an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth" and the customs of blood vengeance. In the Middle Ages, this measure was practiced almost everywhere. At the moment, a large number of states have declared the death penalty illegal and abolished it. Many consider this type of punishment to be too inhuman and does not meet the principles of international law. However, this is not the opinion of all states, in many countries the death penalty still lives on.
In which states is the death penalty practiced?
Now the death penalty exists in 58 states, among them: Afghanistan, Bahamas, Belarus, China, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Japan, Libya, Mongolia, North Korea, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Somalia, Syria, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, United States, Vietnam.
The largest number of executions take place in China, and the least in Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and the UAE.
In some countries, the death penalty is theoretically available, but executions have not been practiced in them for a long time. These states include Algeria, Benin, Zambia, Kenya, Congo, Kyrgyzstan, Madagascar, Mali, Maldives, Russia, Swaziland, Tunisia, Sri Lanka.
For what crimes is the death penalty imputed?
In almost all countries that have not abolished the death penalty, it is imputed for murder, pedophilia, rape and crimes against the government. However, each country makes its own, sometimes shocking, changes and additions to this list. For example, in Arab countries the head is cut off for theft, and for female infidelity - the lover of adultery is stoned to death. It is noteworthy that almost all massacres take place in public.
In Saudi Arabia, the death penalty is threatened for homosexuality and religious crimes. In the UAE, this measure is applicable to those who allowed themselves to smoke, eat or drink during the day in public places during the Ramadan fast. In Hong Kong, a wife has the right to commit the death penalty on her unfaithful spouse herself, the only condition is without the use of a weapon. In China, in addition to the standard list, you can also lose your life for corruption, prostitution, drug addiction, including for the distribution of drugs.
