Jordan Times
Monday, July 24, 2006
Government reconsidering death penalty — Judeh
By Rana Husseini
AMMAN — The government said it is planning to reconsider capital punishment in
Jordan by limiting the cases to which the death penalty is applied, official
sources said.
Government Spokesperson Nasser Judeh told reporters late Saturday night
following the weekly Cabinet meeting that a legal committee headed by the
minister of justice will review all the articles related to death penalty.
“The committee will examine all the clauses and attempt to restrict imposing the
death penalty to certain crimes,” Judeh told reporters.
There are currently 16 crimes punishable by the death penalty in Jordan.
His Majesty King Abdullah told Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera on Nov. 16,
2005, that “in coordination with the European Union we would like to modify our
penal code. Jordan could soon become the first country in the Middle East
without capital punishment.”
Minister of Justice Abed Shakhanbeh had also told a human rights delegation that
was visiting the country two weeks ago that Jordan was considering abolishing
several articles concerning the death penalty in the Jordanian Penal Code.
Human rights watchdogs such as Amnesty International (AI) and Human Rights Watch
(HRW) have urged the Kingdom to abolish the death penalty.
AI frequently expressed its unconditional opposition to the death penalty, which
it said “has never been shown to have a unique different effect and which is
brutalising to all involved in its application.”
The organisation further urged that no more executions be carried out in Jordan.
Meanwhile, HRW sent a letter to Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit in recent months
asking him to abolish the death penalty in Jordan.
“Jordan should abolish the death penalty. HRW opposes the infliction of capital
punishment in all circumstances because of its inherent cruelty,” the letter
read.
In addition, the inherent fallibility of the criminal justice system assures
that even when full due process of law is respected innocent persons are
sometimes executed, HRW letter added.
In December 2005, the Jordan Bar Association (JBA) criticised the two
international human rights organisations’ call to abolish the death penalty in
Jordan, describing the request as “interfering” in the country’s internal
affairs.
“Capital punishment is applied in many countries including the US and the death
penalty is known to be a major factor in preventing crimes and protecting
society,” JBA President Saleh Armouti said.
Crimes that are punishable by death include acts of treason and terrorism, the
instigation of civil war, and attacks against the life of the King.
Premeditated murder and the rape of females under the age of 15 are also subject
to capital punishment.