Uzbekistan Pressed For Death-Penalty Moratorium

Karimov issued a decree on 2 August abolishing the death penalty. It does not take effect until January 2008.

Amnesty International, a London-based international human rights organization, says Uzbekistan should impose an immediate moratorium. In a statement issued today, the organization also says that Uzbek authorities should publish the names of people sentenced to death and awaiting execution.

Karimov has said the number of executions in his country has dropped below 60 per year. International rights groups say the number is about twice that.

Amnesty says that Uzbekistan should publish credible statistics on executions.

Fewer than half the countries of the world still invoke the death penalty.

See also:

Amnesty Report Accuses Uzbekistan Of Death Penalty Abuses