The recent announcement from Zimbabwe about abolishing the death penalty marks a significant progress on the global stage. While there’s still an exemption clause allowing for its reinstatement under a state of emergency, this move contributes to a broader trend, as now 113 nations have stopped executions altogether.
However, the somber reality is that although fewer countries employ the death penalty, those that do have been resorting to it more frequently. Amnesty International noted a troubling rise in executions by 31% in 2023, totaling 1,153, the highest in nearly a decade. It’s important to note that these figures are conservative estimates, as nations like China, suspected of being the leading executioner, withhold such information. Other countries like Iran and Saudi Arabia have also seen a stark increase in execution numbers.
In the United States, while the overall numbers remained unchanged, the situation is still complex. More states have moved away from capital punishment, yet there’s a resurgence in states that maintain it. For instance, Utah, South Carolina, and Indiana resumed executions last year after a long hiatus.
President Biden’s decision in December to commute the sentences of 37 federal death row inmates was a positive step. Nonetheless, there was a missed opportunity to make an even stronger moral statement by dealing similarly with the remaining three inmates, notorious for acts of terrorism or hate-driven mass murder.
The motivation behind Biden’s actions seems evident. Under former President Trump, 13 federal prisoners were executed—a figure that exceeded the combined total under the previous 10 presidents. Some executions went forward against prosecutors’ and victims’ families’ wishes. A new administration can’t easily reverse these commutations, and the appeals process ensures that the remaining cases won’t be resolved under Trump’s potential future tenure. However, Trump has been vocal about his intentions to intensify the use of the death penalty, including for drug offenses. It’s also worth noting that state-level death sentences are far more common, with around 2,250 prisoners currently on death row.
During his tenure, Trump appointed judges at both federal and supreme court levels who now generally refuse to consider appeals. More disturbingly, a culture of ruthlessness seems to be spreading, with states not only aggressively pursuing death sentences but opting for increasingly inhumane methods like nitrogen gas, which is prohibited for most mammals by veterinarians in Europe and the US.
The profile of those executed often involves individuals of color, those from underprivileged backgrounds, and those with intellectual disabilities or traumatic pasts. Many cases include alarming doubts about the validity of their convictions. Missouri’s execution of Marcellus Williams, despite objections from the victim’s family, jurors, and prosecutors, underscores these misgivings. DNA evidence not pointing to Williams ignites further controversy.
Interestingly, such instances are prompting an unexpected backlash, even among some Republican death penalty proponents. While a majority of Americans still support capital punishment, there’s a notable shift among younger generations, including young Republicans, who are increasingly opposed. This trend should embolden abolition advocates both in the US and internationally, reminding us all that despite the rising tide of state-sanctioned executions, the movement towards their abolition is gaining momentum.
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