the Church in Senegal expressed satisfaction over...

the Church in Senegal expressed satisfaction over the Dakar Parliament's approval of a law abolishing the death penalty.
"I am happy to see that Senegalese society has at last understood that the death penalty does not necessarily resolve social deviations nor is it above all a good method to fight against insecurity," said Father Alfred Wally Sarr, the secretary-general of the Senegalese bishops' conference.
"The Church cannot but rejoice over this. This decision reminds us of our faith, according to which life is a gift of God," he said.
Father Sarr said he shared the affirmations of a Muslim deputy who said during a radio broadcast that "the abolition of the death penalty is consistent with Islam, a religion of forgiveness and mercy." About 94% of the Senegal's 10.8 million people profess Islam.
The bill was still awaiting the signature of President Abdoulaye Wade, who previously promised to abolish the death penalty.