I’ve cut and paste below the latest update from Amnesty International – can someone please tell or remind me WHY ON EARTH we are holding the greatest inclusive sporting event there is in one of the most oppressive countries in the world!!?? The Amnesty statement here makes little mention of China, but the figures speak for themselves – at a very conservative estimate

At least of 1,252 people were executed (in 24 countries) last year we think it has executed 470 fathers, or mothers, or sons or daughters. This is horrible and yet we are surely condoning this behaviour by allowing these executers to make money out of this event.

The big five were: China (470+), Iran (317+), Saudi Arabia (143+), Pakistan (135+), USA (42) – the ‘plus’ symbol is a warning, though: because of secrecy, these are only minimum figures. China, for example, refuses to publish execution statistics.

At least 3,347 people were sentenced to death in over 50 countries

There are now up to 27,500 people on death row around the world

Read the full story – including about how a man was publicly stoned to death for adultery in Iran, another was beheaded for sorcery in Saudi Arabia, and how the United States released its 124th innocent prisoner from death row since 1973 while recently going a record six months without an execution. Our blog on the issue is here.

If you agree that the death penalty is cruel, unnecessary and about as relevant to modern justice as burning “witches” or heretics, then the “unofficial moratorium” in the US is encouraging news and Amnesty is now supporting a United Nations initiative to get a worldwide halt on all executions around the world. Read more about the moratorium here.