ASIA/INDIA - Abolish Death Penalty: appeals of civil society and the Church

New Delhi (Agenzia Fides) – To commit onself to formally abolish death penalty is what the Christian Churches in India and civil society are asking the Indian government in a joint appeal. The text sent to Fides urges the federal government to officially present to the UN the commitment to abolish death penalty when it will be called to report before the UN Human Rights Council in May 2012. In 2010, 137 prisoners were sentenced to death, and the courts continue to make provision for it while it "is no longer acceptable as a punishment by any civilized society".
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has prepared a National Report on Human Rights, to be presented in spring 2012 at the United Nations, upon which civil society organizations have been able to make comments and proposals: hence the abolitionist appeal, signed by an appropriate group of organizations like the Asian Center for Human Rights, and shared by Christian associations and the Catholic Church.
Fr. Charles Irudayam, Secretary of the Commission "Justice and Peace" of the Indian Bishops, told Fides: "As Catholic Church we fully share the appeal to abolish capital punishment and we have given our contribution to the National Report on Human Rights. We recall and defend the sanctity of human life: God is Creator and giver of life and men are not the owners".
"We have raised our voice - continues Fr. Irudayam - and we believe there is an opportunity. We are helping to raise much debate in order to sensitize Indian society and then present an abolitionist bill in parliament. Capital punishment has existed for 60 years in the India system and will not be easy to modify. But we see that more and more politicians are in favor of the abolition, therefore, there could be a real possibility".
Death penalty is present in the Indian Constitution of 1950, but India has not applied it since 2004. There are over 400 inmates waiting on death row. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 19/01/2012)