(EU) EP/DEATH PENALTY: Radicals support appeal against boycott of Miss World competition in Nigeria

Brussels, 11/10/2002 (Agence Europe) - At a press conference on the premises of the European Parliament in Brussels, the NGO "Don’t Touch Cain" presented its 2002 report on "The death penalty in the world" dedicated to the President of Nigeria, Olosegun Obasanjo due to "his stance in favour of the abolition of the death penalty and his crucial role in the democratic process in Nigeria". The NGO also praises the role he played in the Safyia Hussaini case and the reassuring words he recently made concerning Amina Lawal, two Nigerians condemned to stoning. The report notes that 4,700 executions took place in 2001 in the world, over 98% in totalitarian or authoritarian countries. As we stand, 77 countries have abolished the death penalty but 67, among which we find China, Japan, the two Koreas, Burma, the United States, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq and Saudi Arabia, still apply it.Italian Radical Marco Pannella and Renzo Imbeni (Democratici di sinistra) joined in the appeal by the NGO’s Secretary Sergio d’Elia in favour of the abolition of the death penalty, beginning with the application in all countries of a moratorium on executions. The two MEPs also provided their backing to the appeal launched by the NGO in favour of a massive participation in the Miss World competition to be held in Nigeria from 9 to 30 November. For Sergio d’Elia, it is a question of supporting Nigeria’s president in striving for the abolition of the death penalty, and a boycott of this competition would only serve to satisfy the fundamentalist elements of the northern part of the country who view this event as "sacrilege". Furthermore, participation in the competition will enable candidates to express their opposition to practices such as stoning. The Ambassador of Nigeria recalled that his country was a federal state and that is was only a few states in the north (a dozen: Ed.) out of 36 that had adopted the Sharia. He explained that these states "violate the fundamental rights of women as recognised by the federal Constitution", that their courts pass down sentences of stoning but that there was an appeal procedure at federal level that "guarantees application of modern law" and that there would not, therefore, be any stoning. "To boycott the competition would amount to supporting fundamentalism and extremism", said the Ambassador. The appeal launched by "Don’t touch Cain" also received the backing of the Italian candidate in the competition, Pamela Camassa, and the Swedish candidate, Sofia Hedmark, who said: "If we stay at home, we shall help nobody". Mr. D’Elia stipulated that the German and Norwegian candidates had also already answered favourably to the appeal, whereas the French and Belgian candidates had taken a stance in favour of the boycott. The Belgian candidate confirmed her stance: she considers that participation in this type of competition does not really allow them to make statements, whereas a boycott exercises useful pressure. Worth noting that Nigeria is one of the 20 countries to have voted against the resolution on the death sentence adopted by the United Nations’ Human rights Committee on 25 April 2002.