Death Knell...

In the early 1800s an Englishman could be hanged for stealing a shirt. By the end of the 1900s, growing concern for individual rights had caused the death penalty to disappear from the United Kingdom and nearly everywhere else in the Western World. Two exceptions are Belarus and the USA, although this year New Mexico became the 15th state to outlaw capital punishment. Death-penalty opponents cite the exoneration of 131 people on death row since 1973 as well as the high cost of capital cases.

Defenders argue that the penalty offers justice and cite some studies that show its a deterrent. The practice is strong in culturally conservative areas - Japan, Saudi Arabia, Texas and totalitarian regimes. Elsewhere, opposition is mounting. Indian activists believe capital punishment is a violation of the right to life. In most countries where the penalty is still legal. it is used less and less.

Death rows - In 2008 there were official reports of 2,390 executions in 25 countries:

1,718 - China 346 - Iran 102 - Saudi Arabia 37 - United States

36 - Pakistan 34 - Iraq 19 - Vietnam 17 - Afghanistan

15 - North Korea 15 - Japan 13 - Yemen 10 - Indonesia

Mr. Still