Christian ministry seeks abolition of death penalty

Christian representatives working among prisoners in the country has appealed to Indian President Pratibha Patil to abolish capital punishment.

On July 26, at least six officials of the Prison Ministry India met with Patil and submitted a memorandum. The ministry works under the Commission for Justice, Peace and Development of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India.

According to the memorandum, India has 273 people on death row, 44 of whom are awaiting the president's decision on clemency petitions, their last recourse to have their death sentences commuted.

Further it asserts that death penalty has never acted and would never act as a deterrent. Crime has only increased over the year, it notes.

Archbishop Vincent Concessao of Delhi, who accompanied the ministry officials, told UCA News Christians should advocate love, compassion and forgiveness for those on death row. The archbishop expressed hope that "one day we will succeed" in amending the constitution to abolish the death penalty.

Religions also talk about reformation, and "giving a chance to the culprit to compensate the victim would go a long way in reforming the person," the memorandum continues.

In 2007, the Church prison ministry collected more than 150,000 signatures in support of its demand for abolition of death penalty and has sent it to the Indian president.

Among countries around the world, almost all European and many Pacific Area states (including Australia, New Zealand and Timor Leste), and Canada have abolished capital punishment. In Latin America, most states have completely abolished the use of capital punishment.

The United Nations introduced a resolution during the General Assembly's 62nd session in 2007 calling for a universal ban. It passed a non–binding resolution by asking its member states for "a moratorium on executions with a view to abolishing the death penalty".