Italian Prisoners Ask for Death
More than 300 of Italy's life-sentence prisoners have signed a letter asking the Italian president to reinstate the death penalty and change their sentences. Italy is one of the world's leading opponents of execution and even allows prisoners serving life sentences conditional release after years of good behavior. But the inmates who signed the letter seem to feel that life behind bars is not worth living.More than 300 of Italy’s life-sentence prisoners have signed a letter asking the Italian president to reinstate the death penalty and change their sentences. Italy is one of the world’s leading opponents of execution and even allows prisoners serving life sentences conditional release after years of good behavior. But the inmates who signed the letter seem to feel that life behind bars is not worth living.
WAIT BEFORE YOU GO...BBC:
Hundreds of prisoners serving life sentences in Italy have called on President Giorgio Napolitano to bring back the death penalty.
Their request was published as a letter in the daily newspaper La Repubblica.
Italy has almost 1,300 prisoners serving life terms, of whom 200 have served more than 20 years.
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Ending the death penalty, which is disproportionately imposed on African Americans, would be a good first step toward righting some of this nation’s wrongs.
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The conservative Republican became a strong proponent of abortion rights, consumer protection and limits on the death penalty.
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In calling for a moratorium on executions, the California governor has shown tremendous moral courage. He has my eternal gratitude.
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