Legislative organs must be elected, the role of the...

Legislative organs must be elected, the role of the International Criminal Court strengthened and the civil and political rights of Palestinians must be recognised.
These were the cardinal points of the Sanaa declaration, that concluded a three-day an international conference on Democracy, Human Rights and the Role of the International Criminal Court in the Yemeni capital.
The conference, organised by No Peace Without Justice in co-operation with the government of Yemen and with the support of the European Commission and a number of other countries, was attended by over 800 delegates from over forty national governments and regional and international organisations.
Yemeni Foreign Minister Abubakr Al Kirbi pointed out that on a juridical level, on issues such as the death penalty, Yemen has similarities even with the US.
"Even the US have the death penalty and they're a democracy. Every country has its own traditions and ways of doing things, and these must be respected." HOC Treasurer Elisabetta Zamparutti, present at the conference, raised the death penalty issue.
"However the problem lies not with the Koran itself but in the literal translation of a centuries-old text into penal norms, punishments and rules valid for present times - a transposition done by fundamentalist, dictatorial or authoritarian regimes and used by them as an improper means to gain political ends, consolidate power or impede the democratic process. In fact, not all Islamic countries inspired by the Koran have the death penalty or incorporate the holy book in their penal code, civil code or even their constitution."