[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----worldwide

[Rick Halperin]

June 25



BELARUS:

5th argument against death penalty



The film from the series "6 Arguments against Death Penalty" tells about 
inhuman treatment of relatives of executed in Belarus.

The UN Human Rights Committee repeatedly stated that the procedure of death 
penalty in Belarus comes within the definition of torture, and notably, not of 
the executed only, but his relatives as well.

The date of execution is not revealed, and a stay in a condemned cell lasts for 
several months. It is agonizing for a human mind, as a convicted person cannot 
realize in fact, when the sentence is to be put into effect, when the last day 
of his life is to come, he cannot prepare for this act, Viasna human rights 
centre informs.

A human rights watchdog Harry Pahanyajla said: "A Soviet time law is still in 
force in Belarus, according to which after an execution by firing the body of 
the executed is not given to the family, and they are not informed about the 
place of burial. In this way, the date and the place of the execution, and the 
burial place are made secret."

(source: charter97.org)